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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WIUV  MA'     ^T««i■T 

WIBSTCR,N.Y.  I4S80 

(716)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
cupy  which  may  be  bibliographicaliy  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  peiliculie 


r     I    Cover  title  missing/ 


D 


>/ 


D 


D 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


r~7\    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

□   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6x6  fllm6es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires: 


Thee 
to  th( 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliogrnphique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  ex!ger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 

□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

I — I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


Pages  restauries  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piquies 


Thei 
possi 
of  th 
filmii 


Origi 

begii 

theli 

sion, 

othei 

first 

sion, 

or  ill! 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

ryi    Showthrouflh/ 
LL-l   Transparence 

I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


D 


Qualitd  in^gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


The  I 
shall 
TINl 
whic 

Mapi 
diffe 
entir 
begii 
right 
requi 
metli 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  Image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6td  film6es  A  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X                            16X 

20X                              24X                             28X                             32X 

The  copy  filmed  here  hes  been  reproduced  thenks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library, 

Geological  Survey  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grflce  k  la 
gAnirositA  de: 

Bibliothique, 

Commission  Gtologique  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suSvantes  ont  At6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  netteti  de  rexempiaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplalres  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim6e  sont  film6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  solt  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  solt  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplalres 
originaux  sont  fiimAs  en  commengant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  mony  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  ie 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
film6s  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


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DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR 

UNITED  STATES  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 

CHARLES  0.  WALCOTT,  DIRECTOR 


MAP  OF  ALASKA 


SHOWD^G   KNOWN  GOLD-BEABING   ROCKS 


WITH 


DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT 


CONTAINING  SKETCHES  OF  THE 


GEOGRAPHY,  GEOLOGY,  AND  GOLD  DEPOSITS 


AND 


ROUTES  TO  THE  GOLD  FIELDS 


PRBPAKBD  II«   ACCOBDANCR  with  PuBMO  RBSOL^mON   No.  8  OF  THK  FlPTY-PIPTH  C0NORK88 
SBOOND  BB88ION,   APPROVBD  J>J(UARV  SW,  189H 


PRINTED  IN  THE  ENQRAVINO  AND  PRINTINQ  DIVISION  OP  THE 

UNITED  StATES  QEOLOQIGAL  SURVEY 

WASHINQTON,  D.  C. 

1898 


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Hon, 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


Department  of  the  Interior, 

United  States  Geological  Survey, 

Washington,  D.  C,  February  2,  1898. 
Sir  :  In  accordance  with  your  instructions,  I  have  somewhat  hastily 
brought  together  in  the  following  pages  such  facts  as  seem  likely  to 
prove  of  immediate  use  to  the  prospetitors  and  miners  who  may  visit 
Alaska. 

Messrs.  W.  H.  Dall  and   F.   C.  Schrader,  both  of  whom   have 
I)ersonally  studied  the  region,  have  rendered  efficient  aid  in  this  work. 
Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

S.  F.  Emmons, 

Geologittt, 
Hon.  Charles  D.  Wah-ott, 

Director  United  Stales  Geological  Survey. 


^'StSt. 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction    . 
Geographical  sketch 

Rivera 

Climatic  conditions 

Routes  to  Klondike 
Geological  sketch    . 

Physical  description 

Original  deposits,  or  quartz  veins 

Detrital  or  placer  deposits 

Probable  extent  of  gold-bearing  deposits 

Other  metals  than  gold    .... 

Coal  and  lignite 


Page. 

5 

7 

8 

10 

11 

18 

itf 

21 

28 

35 

88 

89 


MAP  OF  ALASKA,  WITH  DESCRIPTIVE  TEXT. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Alaska  was  first  visited  by  a  Rnssian  expedition  under  Bering  in 
1741.  In  1799  the  territory  was  granted  to  a  Busso- American  fur 
company  by  the  Emperor  Paul  VIII,  and  in  1839  the  charter  was 
renewed  for  twenty-four  years.  In  1867  it  was  ceded  to  the  United 
States  for  a  money  payment  of  $7,200,000.  The  treaty  was  signed  on 
March  30  and  ratified  on  June  20,  1867;  on  the  18th  of  October  fol- 
lowing, formal  transfer  of  the  country  was  made  to  the  military  force 
of  the  United  States  at  New  Archangel,  now  called  Sitka. 

For  a  long  time  the  wisdom  of  the  purchase  of  this  bleak  tract  of 
unknown  land  lying  largely  within  the  Arctic  Circle  was  seriously 
questioned,  and  Mr.  Seward,  under  whom,  as  Secretary  of  State,  the 
negotiations  for  its  purchase  were  conducted,  was  subjected  to  some 
criticism,  even  ridicule,  in  consequence.  But  the  energy  of  the 
American  people  would  not  allow  even  so  unpromising  a  region  to 
remain  idle.  First,  the  seal  fisheries  on  the  Pribilof  Islands  were 
made  to  yield  a  considerable  revenue  to  the  Government.  Then 
valuable  gold  mines  were  discovered  and  successfully  worked  in  the 
islands  of  the  Alexander  Archipelago  and  along  the  adjoining  coast, 
where  the  climate  was  found  to  be  relatively  mild  and  the  proximity 
to  deep  and  well -protected  harbors  facilitated  the  cheap  mining  and 
reduction  of  the  ores.  Gradually  a  few  venturesome  prospectors 
found  their  way  across  the  mountains  into  the  higher  and  far  colder 
regions  of  the  interior.  The  first  mining  excitement  in  the  interior 
was  in  the  Cassiar  mining  district  in  British  Columbia  around  Dease 
Lake,  near  the  head  of  the  Stikine  River,  from  1871  to  1887.  Later, 
prospectors  found  their  way  into  the  more  northern  regions  and  down 
the  valley  of  the  Yukon  into  American  territory,  where  they  dis- 
covered valuable  phicers  on  Birch  Creek,  Mission  Creek,  and  Forty- 
mile  Creek,  small  southern  tributaries  of  the  Yukon.  In  the  autumn 
of  1896  still  richer  discoveries  were  made  a  short  distance  east  of  the 
boundary,  along  the  Klondike  River,  and  a  great  rush  of  miners  to 
these  now  famous  diggings  set  in  the  following  spring.  Within  a 
single  year  the  yield  from  this  region  has  exceeded  in  amount  the 
purchase  money  for  the  entire  Territory  of  Alaska,  and  though  a 
large  portion  of  the  gold  has  come  from  territory  within  the  Canadian 
lines,  American  miners  for  the  most  part  have  taken  it  out. 

Accurate  data  with  regard  to  the  geography  of  Alaska  it  is  as  yet 
difficult  to  obtain.  The  immediate  coastline  and  the  many  islands 
which  border  it  have  been  mappe<l  by  the  United  States  Coast  and 


6 


MAP   OF    ALASKA,    WITH   DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


Geodetic  Survey,  and  the  course  of  the  great  Yukon  River,  compar- 
able in  size  to  the  Mississippi,  was  determined  by  the  Western  Union 
Telegraph  Company's  expedition  in  1867  and  by  an  expedition  in 
1869  under  Lieut.  C.  W.  Raymond,  of  the  United  States  Engineers. 
What  other  information  has  been  obtained  with  regard  to  the  interior 
is  derived  from  route  and  sketch  maps  made  from  time  to  time  by 
individual  explorers,  who  generally  followed  the  valleys  of  the  larger 
streams.  Vast  tracts  of  mountain  land  between  these  streams  are  yet 
practically  unknown.  Hence  the  accompanying  map,  which  is  a  copy 
of  part  of  Chart  T  of  the  Coast  Survey,  in  which  have  been  embodied 
some  details  derived  from  maps  of  special  localities,  makes  no  attempt 
to  show  the  general  distribution  of  the  mountain  ranges  in  the 
interior,  but  confines  itself  to  a  delineation  of  the  courses  of  the  known 
streams.  In  some  cases  even  these  tracings  of  stream  coui-ses  are 
known  to  be  inaccurate,  but  until  a  general  survey  of  the  interior  is 
made  it  will  be  impossible  to  correct  them. 

Ketchum  and  Lebarge,  of  the  Western  Union  telegraph  expedition, 
were  apparently  the  first  white  men  to  traverse  the  entire  length  of 
the  Yukon  River.  They  traveled  on  ice  and  snow  from  St.  Michael 
to  Fort  Yukon  in  the  winter  of  1866-67,  and  in  the  following  summer 
made  their  way  to  Fort  Selkirk  and  back,  joining  on  their  return 
W.  H.  Dall,  who  had  charge  of  the  scientific  work  of  the  expedition, 
and  who,  with  Frederick  Whymper,  had  ascended  to  that  point  by 
water.  In  later  years  scientific  explorations  of  the  interior  have  been 
made  by  members  of  the  Canadian  and  of  the  United  States  geolog- 
ical surveys.  In  1887  Dawson  and  McConnell,  of  the  Canadian 
Survey,  ascended  the  Stikine  to  the  Liard,  the  former  going  north- 
westward by  the  Frances  and  Pelly  to  Fort  Selkirk,  the  latter 
liesceuding  the  Liard  to  the  Mackenzie  and  the  following  season 
crossing  from  the  Mackenzie  to  Fort  Yukon  by  the  Porcupine  River 
and  ascending  the  Yukon  to  its  southwestern  sources.  William 
Ogilvie,  of  the  same  corps,  entered  the  Yukon  district  in  1887  and 
has  been  there  most  of  the  time  since,  engaged  in  route  and  boundary 
surveys.  In  1889  I.  C.  Russell,  of  the  United  States  Geological 
Survey,  in  company  with  a  boundary  party  of  the  Coast  Survey, 
ascended  the  Yukon  River  from  its  mouth  to  the  head  of  boat  navi- 
gation, coming  out  over  the  Chilkoot  Pass.  In  1891  C.  W.  Hayes,  of 
the  United  States  Geological  Survey,  accompanied  Schwatka's  expe- 
dition up  the  White,  across  Scolai  Pass,  and  down  the  Copper  River. 
In  the  summer  of  1895  G.  F.  Becker  and  W.  H.  Dall,  under  orders  of 
the  Director  of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey,  made  examina- 
tions of  the  coastal  regions  with  reference  to  gold  and  coal ;  and  in 
1896  J.  E.  Spurr,  assisted  by  H.  B.  Goodrich  and  F.  C.  Schrader, 
made  a  reconnaissance  of  the  gold-bearing  rocks  of  the  Yukon  dis- 
trict. 


GEOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 


WORKS  CONTAINING  GENERAL  USEFUL  INFORMATION  ABOUT  ALASKA. 

Travel  and  Adventures  in  the  Territory  of  Alaska,  by  Frederick  Whyniper. 
Harper  and  Brothers,  New  York,  1869. 

Alaska  and  Its  Resources,  by  W.  H.  Dall.     Lee  and  Shepard,  Boston,  1870. 

Along  Alaska's  Great  River,  by  Frederick  Schwatka.  Cassell  and  Co., 
New  York,  1886. 

Alaska,  Its  History  and  Resources,  Gold  Fields,  Routes  and  Scenery,  by 
Miner  Bruce.  Lowman  and  Hanford  Stationery  and  Printing  Co.,  Seattle, 
18»5. 

Coal  and  Lignite  of  Alaska,  by  W.  H.  Dall:  Seventeenth  Ann.  R«pt.  U.  S. 
Geol.  Survey,  Part  I,  Washington,  1896. 

Reconnaissance  of  the  Gold  Fields  of  Southern  Alaska,  by  George  F. 
Becker:  Eighteenth  Ann.  Rept.  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey,  Part  III,  Washington, 
1898. 

Geology  of  the  Yukon  Gold  District,  Alaska,  by  J.  E.  Spurr:  Eighteenth 
Ann.  Rept.  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey,  Part  III,  Washington,  1898. 

GEOGEAPHICAL  SKETCH. 

Alaska  has  an  area  of  580,107  sfxuare  miles.  It  is  roughly  quad- 
rangular in  outline,  with  a  panhandle  extension  in  the  southeast 
along  the  coast  and  a  peninsula  stretching  out  into  the  ocean  on  the 
southwest,  which  continues  in  the  chain  of  the  Aleutian  Islands  that 
separate  Bering  Sea  from  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Its  eastern  boundary  is 
formed  by  the  14ist  meridian  of  longitude  west  from  Greenwich,  and 
the  westernmost  portion  of  its  mainland,  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  is 
on  the  lG8th  meridian,  or  within  54  miles  of  the  easternmost  point 
of  Asia.  In  latitude  it  extends  from  54°  40',  the  southern  point  of 
Prince  of  Wales  Island,  to  Point  Barrow,  in  71°  23'  north  latitude, 
far  within  the  Arctic  Circle.  Its  greatest  extent  in  a  north-south 
line  is  thus  1,100  miles,  and  from  east  to  west  800  miles. 

The  coast-line  is  much  broken  by  arms  of  the  sea,  reaching  far 
inland,  either  as  open  bays,  as  sounds  or  submergetl  river  valleys,  or 
as  fiord-like  inlets.  Its  length  is  estimated  at  18,211  miles,  which  is 
greater  than  that  of  the  entire  coastline  of  the  United  States.  The 
coast  also  abounds  in  islands,  which  cover  an  aggregsite  area  of  31,205 
square  miles  and  which  as  a  rule  are  very  mountainous.  The  chain 
of  the  Aleutian  Islands,  reaching  nearly  1,5('0  miles  into  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  is  largely  of  eruptive  origin  and  contains  many  volcanic 
craters,  some  of  which  are  yet  active.  They  rise  very  abruptly  from 
the  sea,  often  to  an  elevation  of  several  thousjind  ft»et,  one  on  Ilnimak 
Island  reaching  a  height  of  8,955  feet. 

The  Alexander  Archipelago  and  the  adjoining  coast  strip,  the  best- 
known  and  most  fre(iuented  part  of  the  Territory,  resembles  the  sub- 
merged portion  of  a  narrow  and  precipitous  mountiiin  system.  The 
archipelago  consists  of  1,100  islands,  the  largest  and  most  southern 
of  which  is  Prince  of  Wales  Island.  It  is  intersected  by  deep  and 
relatively  narrow  waterways,  which  often  run  far  inland  and  bear 


8 


MAP   OF    ALASKA,    WITII    DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


evidence  of  previous  occupation  by  glaeiers.  In  some  cases,  as  at 
Glacier  Bay,  enormous  living  glaciers  are  found  at  their  bead.  The 
islands  themselves  are  steep-sided  and  rise  to  an  average  elevation  of 
2,500  feet.  On  the  seaward  side  of  Baranof  Island,  one  of  the  outer 
tier,  on  which  Sitka  is  situatetl,  is  a  volcanic  c^^ter,  called  Mount 
Edgecumb,  2,855  feet  high.  Further  northwestward,  forming  part 
of  the  same  mountain-line,  the  St.  Elias  Range,  which  follows  the 
immediate  coast,  contains  many  high  mountains  and  culminates  to 
the  north  in  Mount  St.  Elias  at  an  elevation  of  18,024  feet.  Mount 
Logan,  further  inland,  is  supposetl  to  be  still  higher,  and  explorers 
report  that  far  in  the  interior,  between  Copper  River  and  the  Lower 
Yukon,  there  is  a  group  of  mountains,  extending  in  the  same  general 
direction,  of  equal  or  perhaps  even  greater  elevation,  the  highest 
point  of  which  has  been  designate<l  Mount  McKinley. 

RIVERS. 

The  rivers  entering  into  the  waters  of  the  Alexander  Archipelago 
are  generally  short,  and  only  two,  the  Stikine  and  the  Taku,  are 
known  to  head  beyond  the  crest  of  the  mountains  immediately  adjoin- 
ing the  coast.  The  Chilkat  River  is  a  considerable  and  rapid  stream 
entering  the  head  of  Lynn  Canal  from  the  northwest;  it  is  probably 
less  than  100  miles  in  length.  The  next  river  northward  is  the 
Alsek,  about  which  little  is  known,  but  it  is  supposed  to  head  on 
the  east  side  of  the  St.  Elias  Range,  in  the  vicinity  of  Mount  Logan. 

Copper  River  is  a  larger  stream  than  any  of  those  thus  far  men- 
tioned, and  heads  in  a  mountainous  country,  little  known,  except  by 
the  Indians,  who  have  a  village  above  the  canyon  which  extends 
northward  from  its  mouth.  Rolled  masses  of  native  copper,  of  which 
their  knives  were  made,  were  obtained  somewhere  in  this  region.  A 
northwestern  branch  of  this  stieam  is  said  to  head  between  the 
Sushitna  and  the  Tanana  rivers,  possibly  in  the  lake  which  on  the 
map  is  represeuled  as  being  drained  by  the  Sushitna.  The  Sushitna 
also  is  an  important  stream,  emptying  into  the  head  of  Cook  Inlet, 
very  wide  and  ditlicult  of  navi»;ation  near  its  mouth  owing  to  the 
great  rise  and  fall  of  the  tide.  Its  sources  are  in  a  high  mountainous 
region,  a  main  northwestern  branch  being  supposed  to  head  near 
Mount  McKinley. 

The  next  large  river,  the  Kuskokwim,  is  the  se<H>u<l  largest  in  the 
Territory,  its  length  being  estimated  at  500  to  600  miles.  It  drains  a 
high  mountainous  region  dillicult  of  access.  The  Russians  ascended 
it  in  boats  as  far  as  the  Redoubt  Kolmakof  or  crossed  from  the  Yukon 
by  a  portage  near  Oknagamut.  The  currents  of  the  lower  stream  are 
rapid.  A  winter  route  was  also  used  from  Fort  Alexander  up  the 
Nushagak  and  down  the  Chulitna;  in  summer  the  morasses  along 
this  route  may  not  be  passable. 


RIVERS. 


9 


Beyond  Norton  Sound,  into  which  empties  the  great  Yukon,  that 
drains  the  whole  interior  region,  the  principal  streams  of  known 
importance  are  the  Kowak  and  the  Noatak,  which  flow  into  Kotzebue 
Sound.  The  Colville  River,  which  empties  into  the  Arctic  Ocean,  is 
supposed  to  head  in  the  same  general  region  as  the  two  just  men- 
tioned. 

The  Yukon  River  has  an  estimated  length  of  2,000  miles,  of  which 
three  fourths  is  continuously  navigable  for  river  steamers.  It  empties 
into  Norton  Sound  through  a  wide  delta  in  four  principal  mouths  50 
to  64  miles  in  length.  For  about  a  hundred  miles  above  the  delta  it 
has  a  general  northwest  course,  then  bends  at  right  angles  and  has  a 
southwest  direction  up  to  the  bend  at  Fort  Yukon,  just  within  the 
Arctic  Circle.  Here  it  receives  the  waters  of  the  Porcupine,  a  atream 
having  the  same  general  southwest  course  and  heading  near  ciit  ^uouth 
of  the  Mackenzie  River.  Fort  Yukon  is  distant  in  a  direct  line  about 
(J.50  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Above  this  point  the  general 
direction  of  the  river  is  again  northwest,  but  a  short  di-n  ace  east  of 
the  international  boundary  it  turns  to  a  north-south  course,  wkich  it 
maintains  for  netulj  a  hundred  miles,  through  the  Upper  T^aiuparts. 
It  is  at  tho  bend  below  this  north-running  stretch  that  the  Klondike 
River  enters  from  the  east,  above  which,  and  more  or  less  pai-allel,  are 
the  Indian  and  Stewart  rivers,  all  famous  as  draining  a  region  phe- 
nomenally rich  in  gold.  Near  the  upper  end  of  this  north-south 
course  the  White  River  enters  in  the  same  direction  from  the  south. 
Above  this  the  Yukon  resumes  its  northwest  course  and  maintains  it 
to  Fort  Selkirk,  which  is  near  the  head  of  navigation.  At  Fort 
Selkirk  it  splits  into  two  main  branches :  the  Pelly,  which  drains  the 
Rocky  Mountain  regions  to  the  northeast,  and  the  Lewes,  which  in 
several  bra,nches  drains  the  region  to  the  southwest  and  the  many 
lakes  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Coast  Ranges. 

The  principal  tributaries  of  the  Yukon  from  Fort  Selkirk  to  Fort 
Yukon  are,  on  the  south  side,  in  descending  order.  White,  Sixtymile, 
Fortymile,  Mission,  Seventymile,  and  Charlie  rivers,  and  on  the  north, 
from  Dawson  at  the  mouth  of  the  Klondike  downward,  the  Chandindu, 
Tatonduc,  Tahkandit,  and  Kandik  rivers.  From  Fort  Yukon  to  the 
open  country  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  the  longer  streams  coming 
from  the  southeast  are  Birch  Creek,  Beaver,  Tanana,  and  Nowikakat 
rivera;  from  the  north  come  the  Dall,  Tozikakat,  Melozikakat,  and 
Koyukuk  rivei'S,  the  latter  one  of  the  largest  tributaries  and  said  to 
])e  500  to  (iOO  miles  in  length. 

The  Yukon  is  generally  a  broad  and  muddy  stream,  fl'^wing  with 
a  current  of  3  to  9  miles  an  hour.  Occasionally  it  runs  in  a  narrow, 
rocky  canyon  cut  through  lava,  or  across  low  mountain  ranges,  and 
such  stretches  are  locally  called  "ramparts."  For  the  most  part, 
however,  its  valley  is  wide,  and  the  stream  often  spreads  out  into 


im^» 


10 


MAP   OP    ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE   TEST. 


li 

i! 


many  channels  with  low  wooded  islands  between,  the  whole  covering 
a  width  said  to  reach  10  miles  in  places.  Dry  spruce  is  practically 
the  only  fuel  availal;)le  for  steamers  along  the  Yukon,  and  the  supply 
is  limited  and  difficult  to  obtain.  Although  the  river  is  frozen  up 
during  eight  months  of  the  year,  from  October  to  June,  its  importance 
as  a  means  of  transporting  supplies  can  hardly  be  overestimated.  In 
the  early  years,  when  the  connection  between  the  upi)er  and  lower 
IK)rtions  of  the  river  was  not  absolutely  known,  the  Hudson  Bay  fur 
traders  were  in  the  habit  of  taking  their  peltry  from  Fort  Selkirk 
down  to  the  mouth  of  the  Porcupine  and  up  that  stream  to  the  Mac- 
kenzie, preferring  to  make  this  long  and  circuitous  journey  rather 
than  encounter  the  difficulties  of  a  more  direct  route  across  the  moun- 
tains to  the  eastward. 

CLIMATIC  CONDITIONS. 

From  the  point  of  view  of  climatic  conditions  Alaska  may  be  divided 
into  three  provinces:  the  southeastern  coast  strip,  the  Aleutian  region, 
and  the  interior  or  Yukon  region.  In  the  former  there  is  an  abun- 
<lant  rainfall  and  a  temperate  climate.  The  rainfall  at  Sitka  is  60  to 
1)5  inches  per  annuu),  and  the  mean  annual  temperature  is  "42°,  the 
average  in  winter  being  'M°  and  in  summer  55°,  a  very  narrow  range. 
In  the  interior  the  climate  is  arid  and  the  ranges  of  temperature  are 
c^msequently  wide.  The  Aleutian  district  presents  various  means 
between  these  extremes.  The  rainfall  of  the  Yukon  district  has  been 
given,  necessarily  from  very  imperfect  data,  as  l.'J  inches.  The  tem- 
perature is  known  to  have  been  112°  in  the  shade  at  Fort  Yukon  in 
the  summer,  and  ($8°  below  zero  in  winter,  as  extremes,  but  averages 
have  not  yet  been  obtained  by  continuous  series  of  observations.  The 
livei-s,  l)eiug  fed  mainly  by  melting  snow  and  ice,  are  very  high  in 
early  summer,  and  fall  during  the  rest  of  the  year,  at  times  with  great 
rapidity.  The  cold,  being  dry,  is  not  necessjirily  difficult  to  bear  for 
well-clothed  and  robust  men.  Fur  clothing  and  loose  non-(Hmducting 
foot-wear  are  desirable  for  winter  travel.  Indian  snowshoes  are  pref 
erable  to  the  Norwegian.  The  most  favorable  months  for  traveling 
are  March  and  April.  In  May  the  snow  is  wet  and  travel  is  heavy, 
and  mosquitoes  l)egin  to  appear.  During  the  summer  these  swarm  in 
clouds  and  render  life  almost  unbearable.  They  are  the  most  hardy 
specimens  of  the  tribe,  and  during  their  brief  season  a  brisk  wind 
furnishes  the  only  relief.  Their  activity  often  extends  late  into 
Irosty  nights.  Some  protection  in  the  form  of  face-covering  and 
leather  gloves  is  an  alwolute  necessity.  The  Indians  smear  their  faces 
with  a  mixture  of  grease  and  charcoal,  and  paddle  with  a  smudge  on 
a  square  of  turf  in  the  bow  of  the  canoe. 

As  a  result  of  climatic  conditions  the  coastal  regions  support  a  most 
bixuriant  forest  growth,  compamble  to  that  of  western  Oregon  and 


CLDklATIO  CONDITIONS. 


11 


Washington.  This  extends  westward  as  far  as  Kadiak  Island,  and 
then  suddenly  stops,  the  region  west  of  that  being  practically  treeless. 
Going  into  the  interior  from  the  coiist,  one  reaches  the  upper  limit  of 
timber  growth,  or  the  timber-line,  as  it  is  popularly  called,  at  2,300 
to  2,500  feet  elevation.  Within  the  arid  region  there  is  no  dense 
forest  growth.  Trees  grow  along  the  valleys  of  the  principal  streams, 
but  the  species  are  generally  different  from  the  coast  growths  and  of 
inferior  quality  for  timber.  The  rock  surface  to  a  considerable  height 
on  the  mountain  slopes  is  coveretl  with  a  dense  blanket  of  moss, 
beneath  which  the  soil  is  permanently  frozen,  thawing  only  for  a  few 
feet  downward  in  the  summer  months.  The  actual  depth  of  frozen 
ground  has  not  yet  been  determined,  but  there  is  reason  to  believe 
that  it  is  as  much  as  100  feet.  Such  ground  can  not  be  broken  by 
explosives,  which  simply  tear  a  small  hole  without  shattering  the 
surrounding  mass  to  any  considerable  extent.  Thus  far  fire,  as  it 
was  used  by  ancient  miners  before  the  introduction  of  gunpowder, 
has  proved  the  most  effectual  agent  in  mining. 

The  following  table  gives  temperature  observations,  in  Fahrenheit 
degrees,  made  by  Ogilvie's  party  at  the  town  of  Portymile  during  the 
year  December,  1895,  to  November,  1896. 


Lowest  temperature . . 
Highest  temperature . 


Dec. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

Apr. 

May 

June 

July 

Auft. 

Sep. 

Oct 

-SB" 

-«8« 

-640 

-37« 

-38» 

-60 

80» 

88» 

ar» 

R» 

1° 

6- 

6" 

sa» 

40» 

40» 

63" 

80° 

81 » 

~ti° 

68° 

61° 

Nov. 

-380 
28» 


Ice  in  Fortymlle  River  broke  up May  11, 180(1. 

Ice  in  Yulton  River  broke  up May  17, 1896, 

and  ran  thickly  until May  iW,  1806. 

Ice  formed  on  the  Yukon Sept.  !J8,  IWtO, 

and  broke  again,  and  finally  set Nov.  S,  1890. 

ROUTES  TO  KLONDIKE. 

The  following  routes  to  the  Klondike  gold  fields  have  vome  into 
general  notice,  and  some  are  already  in  practical  uhc: 

Yukon  or  all-water  route. 

Skagway  or  White  I'ass  route. 

Dyea  or  Chilkoot  W-.m  route. 

Dalton  or  Chilkat  Pass  route. 

8tikiiie  route. 

Taku  route. 

Iklmouton  route. 

Copper  liiver  route. 

The  Yukon  or  all-imUr  route. — TliiH  route  is  by  ocean  steamer  from 
Seattle  or  Ha*  Francisco  to  St.  Miclmel,  near  the  mouth  of  (lie  Yukon; 
thence  by  river  steamboat  up  the  Yukon  to  Dawson.     The  length  of 


12 


MAP    OF   ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


I   i 


i 


this  route  is  about  4,000  miles,  it  being  nearly  2,700  from  Seattle  to 
St.  Michael  and  about  1,300  up  the  Yukon  to  Dawson.  Those  taking 
this  route  should  aim  to  leave  St.  Michael  early  in  July,  in  order  to 
avoid  the  delays  in  upstream  progress  caused  by  sandbars  at  low 
stages  of  water  later  in  the  season.  The  time  from  Seattle  to  St. 
Michael  is  about  twenty  days,  and  that  from  St.  Michael  to  Dawson 
the  same,  making  about  forty  days  for  the  trip.  Under  favorable 
weather  and  circumstances  it  may  be  made  in  less  time.  The  usual 
first-class  fare  is  about  $150.  Though  this  route  is  the  one  over  which 
commercial  companies  operating  in  the  Yukon  country  transport  their 
goods,  it  is  seldom  used  by  miners  who  wish  to  enter  in  the  spring, 
since  at  that  season  it  takes  several  weeks  longer  to  make  the  trip  by 
this  route  than  it  does  to  make  it  by  some  of  the  trails  mentioned 
below.  It  is,  liowever,  highly  advantageous  for  persons  unfitted  to 
rough  it  on  the  trails. 

The  Skagwa}!  or  White  Pass  route. — From  Seattle  to  Skagway,  a  dis- 
tance of  1,115  miles,  the  route  is  by  ocejin  stesimer  northward  along  the 
coast,  and  finally  up  Ijynn  Canal.  It  is  practically  a  still- water  route, 
being  protected  from  the  swells  of  the  ocean  by  an  almost  continuous 
barrier  of  densely  wooded  islands.  The  trip  requires  about  three  and 
one-half  days.  The  first-class  rate  is  quoted  at  $50 ;  freight,  $1.3  a 
ton.  Skagway  is  located  on  the  esist  side  of  Dyea  Inlet,  a  branch  of 
Lynn  Canal.  Its  population,  which  is  much  increased  by  people  who 
have  l)een  unable  to  get  across  the  trail,  is  said  to  be  about  8,000. 
Dyea  is  situated  4  miles  north  of  Skagway,  west  of  the  mouth  of  Dyea 
Kiver  and  at  the  head  of  Dyea  Inlet.  The  rise  and  fall  of  the  tide  in 
this  inlet  is  about  24  feet.  At  Skagway  steamers  find  good  anchorage 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  beach,  to  which  freight  is  taken  in  lighters 
at  high  tide,  which  are  unloaded  Miien  the  tide  recedes.  Several 
newly  built  wharves  are  said  to  be  now  in  practical  use,  and  the 
facilities  for  laiuliiig  cargoes  are  greatly  superior  to  those  at  Dyea. 
From  Skagway  the  trail  leads  northeastward  up  the  valley  of  the 
Skagway  River,  crossing  the  mountains  at  White  Pass  and  running 
thence  norths  ard  to  the  head  of  Lake  Bennett,  whose  waters  flow  into 
the  Yukon.  The  summit  of  White  Pass  is  2,400  feet  above  sea-level, 
and  its  distance  fnmi  Skagway  is  18  miles.  For  the  first  4  or  5  miles 
there  is  a  good  wagon  road,  which  crosses  the  river  several  times  by 
fold.  At  high  stages  of  waler,  however,  freight  must  be  packed 
across  on  foot  bri<!ges.  Beyond  this  are  long  stretches  of  very  miry 
and  rocky  ground,  where  a  loaded  man  will  sink  knee-deep  in  the 
nnul.  I'liere  are  also  several  steep  and  rough  ascenls,  of  which  Por- 
cupine Hill  is  the  sharpest.  The  last  2  miles  before  reaching  the 
summit  is  a  stendy,  hard  climb,  but  presents  no  dill's  or  prciupices. 
Many  horses  have  been  killed  or  hnve  died  on  this  trail.  Seventy- 
live  to  100  pounds  make  a  good  load  for  the  ordinary  packer.     From 


mm 


ROUTES   TO   KLONDIKE. 


the  summit  to  Lake  Bennett,  17  miles,  the  trail  improves,  although 
still  bad.  It  is  for  the  most  part  gradually  downhill,  over  an  undula- 
ting, rocky  surface.  The  timber-line  is  reached  again  at  The  Meadows, 
about  5  miles  beyond  the  pass,  which  is  the  ordinary  camping- place. 
The  trail  passes  the  two  small  lakes  known  as  Summit  and  Middle 
lakes,  on  which  ferriage  may  be  secured  when  the  water  is  not  frozen. 
Midway  between  the  latter  and  Lake  Lindeman,  about  3  miles  before 
reaching  Lake  Bennett,  the  Canadian  custom-house  officials  have  put 
up  a  large  log  cabin,  which  is  used  as  a  place  of  shelter  by  those  cross- 
ing the  trail.  At  this  point  a  trail  branches  off  to  the  right  down  to 
Tooshhie  Lake ;  but  as  there  are  7  miles  of  impassable  river  between 
Tooshhie  and  Tagish  lakes,  travelers  bound  for  the  Yukon  are  warned 
from  taking  this  route.  At  the  head  of  Lake  Bennett  the  Skagway 
joins  the  Chilkoot  trail.  The  Skagway  trail  is  somewhat  longer  than 
that  over  the  Chilkoot  Pass,  but  the  pass  is  much  loMer.  It  requires, 
however,  considerable  improvement  in  bad  and  swampy  places.  This 
route  has  been  recently  recommended  by  the  United  States  Quarter- 
master's Department  of  Puget  Sound. 

The  Dyea  or  ChilJcoot  Pass  route. — This  is  the  old  trail  used  by  the 
Indians  for  generations,  and  until  a  year  ago  was  practically  the  only 
route  followed  by  miners  and  prospectors  who  entered  the  interior. 
It  is  the  shortest  route  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Yukon. 

Dyea  (or  Taiya)  is  ihe  Indian  word  meaning  pack  or  load.  Owing 
to  the  extensive  shoals  at  the  head  of  Dyea  Inlet  the  conditions  for 
anchorage  and  discharging  cargoes  from  ocean  vessels  are  less  favor- 
able than  at  Skagway.  They  are  either  unloaded  by  means  of  lighters 
or  put  upon  a  rocky  point  about  a  mile  from  the  beach,  whence  they 
are  hauled  off  in  wagons.  Dyea  trail  runs  northeastward  up  the 
Dyea  liiver  and  across  the  Chilkoot  I'ass,  at  an  elevation  of  3,500 
feet,  to  the  head  of  Lake  Lindeman,  a  total  distance  of  28i  miles. 
The  summit  is  13  miles  from  Dyea,  the  first  (>i  miles  following  a  com- 
paratively open  valley  in  which  there  is  a  good  wagon  road.  Owing 
to  the  windings  of  the  stream  within  the  wallH  of  the  valley,  the  river 
must  be  crossed  several  times,  by  fords  in  summer,  by  ferries  in 
spring  when  the  water  is  deep.  The  trail  then  enters  a  narrow  can- 
yon with  steep,  rocky  walls,  which  it  follows  to  Sheep  Camp,  at  timber- 
line,  44  miles  further  on.  Through  the  canyon  the  trail  is  rougher, 
but  horses  have  been  successfully  used  for  several  years  in  j)ai'kiug  to 
Sheep  Camp.  Good  campingiihu'es  are  found  all  along  the  route 
from  Dyea  to  Sheep  Camp,  and  at  several  points  refreshments  may  bo 
obtained.  Sheep  C'amp  is  the  last  camping-place  on  the  west  side  of 
the  range,  as  from  there  on  there  is  no  timber  or  fuel  until  Deep  Lake, 
on  the  other  slope,  12  miles  distant,  is  reached.  From  Sheep  Camp 
to  Scales,  whore  pat^ks  are  weighed  by  the  Canadian  authorities,  a 
distance  of  'M  miles,  the  rise  is  about  1,.S00  feet.    The  trail  is  free 


14 


MAP   OF    ALASKA,    WITH   DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


from  mud,  and  traveling  is  not  difficult,  though  in  places  the  ground 
is  covered  with  bowlders.  From  Scales  to  the  summit  of  the  pass  the 
ground  rises  1,000  feet  in  a  distance  of  about  half  a  mile,  and  masses 
of  broken  rock  or  talus  make  the  climb  very  difficult,  and  impossi- 
ble for  pack  animals.  The  building  of  an  aerial  or  wire  tiumway, 
with  buckets  carrying  400  pounds  of  freight,  has  been  contemplated 
for  this  portion  of  the  route.  From  the  summit  of  Chilkoot  Pass  to 
Lake  Lindeman,  a  distance  of  ir>i  miles,  the  trail  descends  first  very 
steeply  to  a  small  lake  called  Crater  Lake,  and  thence  more  gradually 
along  the  drainageway  of  a  chain  of  lakes  known  as  Long,  Canyon, 
and  Deep  lakes,  which  are  connected  with  one  another  and  finally  w  ith 
Lake  Lindeman  by  small  streams.  Till  late  in  spring  the  whole  of 
this  drainageway  is  frozen  over,  and  one  travels  from  the  summit  to 
Lake  Lindeman  by  sled.  On  either  side  of  the  pass,  especially  on  the 
south,  snow  sometimes  accumulates  to  a  depth  of  50  or  00  feet,  form- 
ing a  sort  of  n6v6  of  limited  extent.  Late  in  the  season,  when  the 
draiuagci  is  open,  a  ferry  sometimes  plies  on  Long  Lake,  a  distance 
of  4  miles.  The  rate  for  psicking  from  Dyea  to  Lake  Lindeman  is 
40  cents  a  pound,  and  rates  are  proportional  for  intermediate  points. 
"Wheu  the  ice  has  broken  up,  Lake  Lindeman  may  be  traversed  by 
ferry,  a  distjince  of  4J  miles,  at  $2  a  passenger.  From  the  foot  of 
Lake  Lindeman  there  is  portage  past  the  rapids  to  the  head  of  Lake 
Bennett,  where  the  Dyea  and  Skiii;\vay  trails  meet. 

From  the  head  of  Lake  Bennett  to  Dawson,  548  miles,  there  is  a 
continuous  waterway  through  lakes  and  rivers,  which  may  be  fol- 
lowed in  summer  by  boat  and  in  winter  (m  the  ice.  Long  stretches 
are  navigjible  by  light- draught  steamers.  Boats  may  be  procured 
or  built  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  but  in  some  respecits  the  most  advan- 
tageous method  is  to  start  early  enough  to  travel  on  the  ice  Jis  far 
as  the  foot  of  Lake  Lebarge,  where  timber  for  boat-building  is 
abundant,  as  iu  this  way  the  dangerous  passage  of  the  White  Horse 
Rapids  is  avoided.  Lake  Bennett  is  2(5  miles  in  length,  narrow  and 
cauyou-liko  iu  form,  and  deep  at  the  lower  end.  Fitteen  miles  below 
the  bend,  where  the  southwest  arm  comes  in,  strong  winds  often  pre- 
vail, producing  a  rough  sea  that  is  dangerous  for  boats,  and  parties 
are  often  storm-bound  there  IVu-  several  days.  A  sluggish  stream  2J 
miles  long  an<l  often  not  more  than  IJ  feet  deep,  known  as  Caribou 
Crossing,  extentls  from  the  foot  of  r^ake  Bennett  to  Tagish  Lake. 
Thencte  there  is  clear  sailing  1S>  miles  down  Tagish  Lake  and  5  miles 
along  a  river  deep  enough  for  ordinary  river  steamers  to  IMai'sh  or 
Mud  liSike.  The  Ciinadiitn  ciistonis  officers  and  mounted  police  are 
stationed  on  tills  river  U  miles  below  Tagish  Lake.  IMarsli  Lake  is 
It)  miles  long  and  empties  into  Fiftymile  Wiver,  whose  current  aver- 
ages .i  to  4  miles  iin  hour.  About  25  miles  down,  the  river  enters 
Miles  Canyon,  a  chasm  aboiit  100  feet  wide  and  five-eighths  of  a  mile 


I    ; 


r/ 1 uuiLvJu  ,ij*»ii 


ROUTES   TO   KLONDIKE. 


15 


long,  between  perpendicular  walls  of  basalt  80  to  100  feet  high.  The 
swift,  turbulent  current  carries  a  boat  through  this  canyon  in  about 
three  minutes.  For  a  fair-sized  boat,  not  too  heavily  loaded,  which 
is  kept  under  steerageway  by  one  or  more  good  oarsmeu  and  follows 
the  middle  of  the  stream,  so  as  not  to  be  dashed  against  the  steep 
rocks  on  either  side,  the  passage  is  quite  practicable.  At  the  foot  of 
the  canyon  one  must  keep  to  the  left  until  the  heavy  swells  are  passetl, 
then  turn  sharply  to  the  right  and  land  on  the  east  or  right  bank.  A 
safer  course,  which  is  followed  by  many,  is  to  portage  one's  load  along 
the  right  side  of  the  canyon,  over  a  hill  about  200  feet  high,  and  run 
the  boat  through  empty. 

Three- eighths  of  a  mile  below  this  canyon  are  rapids  ;ibout  half  a 
mile  long,  which,  though  very  rough,  are  not  dangerous.  A  hall  mile 
below  these  are  the  WTiite  Horse  Eapids,  the  most  dangerous  on 
the  whole  river.  They  are  about  one-third  of  a  mile  long  and  are 
confined  between  low  basaltic  walls.  Near  their  foot  the  walls  close 
together,  forming  a  chasm  only  30  yards  wide,  while  the  bed  of  the 
stream  drops  suddenly,  so  that  the  river  rushes  wildly  through,  leap- 
ing and  foaming  in  a  cataract.  Many  boats  have  passed  successfully 
through,  but  others  have  been  swamped,  with  loss  of  outfits  ami  some- 
times of  life.  The  safer  plan  is  to  portage  around  the  rapids  and  let 
the  boat  down  by  line.  The  portage  is  on  the  west  shore,  but  on 
either  side  a  tramway  could  be  coustructeil  without  great  ditliculty. 

Lake  Lebarge,  which  is  (50  miles  below  the  White  Hoi-se  Rapids,  is 
81  miles  long  and  easily  navigable  by  steamers.  There  is  abundant 
good  timber  at  its  foot.  The  river  below  Lake  Lebarge,  Jis  far  Jis  Fort 
Selkirk,  is  known  jis  the  Lewes,  and  is  also  navigable  for  160  miles, 
tlown  to  the  Five  Finger  liapids.  Here  a  rock  of  conglomerate  rises 
up  from  the  river  bottom,  forming  several  islands  and  backing  up  the 
river  a  foot  or  two,  so  as  to  produce  a  strong  swell  below.  Steep 
cliffs  of  the  same  rock  on  either  bank  render  a  portage  at  this  point 
impracticable.  With  proper  steer.igeway  and  care,  however,  an  ordi- 
nary boat  may  run  the  rapids  safely.  The  right  or  cjist  8i<le  is 
foUoweil  by  most  Yukon  travelers,  but  Ogilvie,  of  the  Canadian 
Survey,  f;  actual  experience  pronounces  the  channel  along  the 
west  bank  as  also  piussable.  For  (J  miles  below  the  l<^ve  Finger 
Rapids  the  current  is  swift,  and  then  occur  the  Rink  Rapids,  which 
extend  halfway  across  the  river  from  the  western  bank,  producing  a 
decitled  riftle.  On  the  east  si«lc,  however,  the  water  is  comparatively 
smooth  and  safe.  Below  this  the  river  is  practically  free  from  rapids 
and  navigation  is  uninipe<le<l.  Fort  Selkirk,  where  the  Pelly  and 
Lewes  unite  to  form  the  Yukon,  is  (55  miles  below.  Thence  it  is  about 
l>5  miles  to  the  mouth  of  White  River,  10  miles  further  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Stewart,  thence  li2  miles  to  Slxtymile  River,  and  4r>  nnles 
further  to  Dawson,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Klondike. 


16 


MAP   OF   ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


ii: 


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11: 


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Ii! 


Ballon  or  Chilkat  Pass  route. — ^This  is  an  overland  route  following  a 
direct  course,  more  or  less  independent  of  waterways,  from  the  head 
of  Chilkat  Inlet  to  Fort  Selkirk.  It  has  been  used  by  J.  Dal  ton,  a 
trader,  for  some  time  as  a  pack-train  route  and  for  driving  in  cattle. 
But  little  is  definitely  known  of  its  geography.  It  ascends  first  the 
Chilkat  and  Klahoela  rivers,  crossing  the  paas  in  45  miles  at  an  ele- 
vation of  3,000  feet  and  thence  descending  into  the  drainage  of  the 
Tahkeena  River  at  Lake  Arkell.  From  Lake  Arkell  the  trail  is  said 
to  pass  over  an  undulating  plain,  well  timbered  in  the  valleys  and 
with  grass  on  the  slopes.  The  distances  from  the  head  of  the  inlet 
are  given  as  75  miles  to  the  watershed  and  100  miles  to  Dalton's 
trading-post.  From  there  to  the  Pelly  the  distance  is  200  miles,  or 
300  miles  in  all  to  the  Pelly,  and  350  to  400  to  Fort  Selkirk. 

The  Stikine  route. — By  this  route  one  travels  by  boat  from  Fort 
Wrangell  150  miles  up  the  Stikine  River  to  Telegraph  Creek,  and 
thence,  a  little  to  the  west  of  north,  150  miles  to  the  head  of  Teslin 
Lake.  The  ascent  of  the  Stikine  River  is  tedious  and  sometimes 
dangerous,  the  current  being  swift  and  rapids  numerous.  It  is,  how- 
ever, the  route  that  was  followed  in  former  days  by  miners  going  to 
the  Cassiar  district.  From  Telegraph  Creek  to  Teslin  Lake  the  trail 
is  said  to  pass  through  a  gently  undulating  and  well-timbered  country 
which  presents  no  obstacles  to  the  building  of  a  railroad.  Lake 
Teslin  is  said  to  be  about  80  miles  long  and  bounded  on  both  sides  by 
high  mountains.  From  its  foot  down  to  the  Lewes  runs  the  Teslin 
(or  Hootalinqua)  River,  which  is  navigable  except  for  two  small 
rapids,  one  near  its  head,  the  other  further  down.  In  its  lower  course 
the  Teslin  spreads  out  into  many  channels,  occupying  a  total  width 
of  2  or  more  miles.  This  route  appears  promising,  but  is  as  yet  only 
prospective. 

The  Taku  route. — This  route  ascends  the  Tak\i  Inlet  and  River  and 
crosses  directly  to  Lake  Teslin  or  Aklen,  a  distance  of  185  miles  from 
Juneau.  Thence  it  is  identical  with  the  Stikine  route.  By  this  route 
one  travels  by  steamer  from  Juneau  18  miles  up  the  Taku  Inlet  to  the 
foot  of  a  large  glacier,  which  is  often  very  dangerous  to  boats,  even  at 
a  distance  of  several  miles,  by  reason  of  the  ice  masses  that  brejik  o^" 
from  it ;  then  by  boat  (JO  miles  up  the  Taku  River  to  the  head  of 
p^noe  navigation.  The  portage  which  follows  is  for  the  first  20  miles 
through  the  canyon-like  valley  of  an  eastern  branch,  then  for  50  miles 
in  broad  valleys  of  the  upper  Taku,  3,500  to  5,000  feet  above  sesi-level. 
For  the  last  15  miles  the  route  is  in  the  densely  wooded  valleys  of 
Teslin  Lake,  among  many  small  ponds.  This  route  is  said  to  be  not 
impracticable  for  a  railroad,  and  a  charter  for  one  has  already  been 
granted  by  the  Canadian  Government.  Its  merits,  however,  have  not 
yet  been  thoroughly  tested.  Both  tais  and  the  Stikine  route  have  the 
undoubted  advantage  of  avoiding  the  dangerous  White  Horse  Rapids. 


ROUTES   TO    KLONDIKE. 


It 


iga 


The  Edmonton  or  inland  Canadian  route. — ^By  this  route  one  travels 
by  the  Canadian  Pacific  Eailway  to  Calgary  and  thence  by  branch 
road  to  Edmonton,  on  the  Saskatchewan  Biver.  From  Edmonton 
there  are  40  miles  of  staging  to  Athabasca  Landing,  on  the  Athabasca 
River,  and  thence  a  canoe  journey  of  1,850  miles  down  the  Athabasca, 
SIp'  e,  and  Mackenzie  rivers  to  Fort  McPherson.  The  only  portage  of 
{a.\y  importance  is  one  of  16  miles  at  Smith  Sound,  where  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company  has  a  tramway.  This  has  been  the  regularly  traveled 
route  of  the  employees  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  for  nearly  a 
century;  aud  the  canoe  trip  to  Fort  McPherson  is  made  in  about  sixty 
days.  From  Fort  McPherson  one  must  ascend  the  Peel  River  south- 
eastward, and  then  travel  several  hundred  miles  through  an  unknown 
country  between  Peel  River  and  the  Klondike,  packing  one's  outfit. 
Though  advantageous  for  mining  districts  along  Peel  River,  this 
route  can  hardly  be  recommended  at  present  to  anyone  bound  for  the 
Klondike  region. 

The  Copper  River  route. — This  is  only  a  proposed  route,  and  as  yet 
presents  little  to  recommend  it.  It  would  strike  inland  from  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Copper  River  and  follow  a  general  northeasterly  course 
toward  the  Klondike,  thus  crossing  a  great  mountain  range  whose 
rough  topography  and  many  glaciers  that  fill  the  valleys  and  passes 
render  general  travel  difficult  if  not  impracticable.  Orca,  the  only 
settlement  on  the  coast  nearby,  is  50  miles  beyond  the  mouth  of  Copper 
River  and  700  miles  from  Sitka.  In  1897  it  had  a  population  of  22 
whites.  It  is  the  first  post-office  west  of  Sitka.  During  the  hist 
summer  several  unsuccessful  attempts  were  made  to  ascend  Copper 
River.  According  to  C.  W.  Hayes,  there  are  impassable  rapids 
formed  by  a  moraine  below  the  Miles  Glacier,  over  which  the  river 
descends  about  100  feet ;  there  are  also  rapids  lower  down  at  the  Childs 
Glacier,  and  the  broad  stretch  of  river  between  is  rendered  dangerous 
for  navigation  by  floating  ice.  According  to  reports  of  natives,  con- 
firmed by  Lieutenant  Allen,  who  crossed  over  to  the  Tanana  in  1885, 
the  better  way  is  to  start  inland  from  Valdes  Inlet,  on  Prince  William 
Sound,  and,  crossing  the  Valdes  Glacier,  strike  Copper  River  180 
miles  above  its  mouth,  thus  avoiding  the  gorge  and  the  most  danger- 
ous rapids.  The  best  time  to  enter  the  region  is  in  .lannary  or  Feb- 
ruary, when  the  snow  filling  the  crevsisses  in  the  glacier  has  be<!ome 
packed ;  at  any  other  time  it  is  difficult  and  dangerous  to  cross.  From 
the  Copper  River  basin  an  advisable  route  would  seem  to  be  over  the 
Scolai  Pass  and  down  White  River;  but  from  observations  made  by 
Hayes  it  appears  that  the  pass,  which  has  an  elevation  of  over  5,000 
feet,  is  occupied  by  a  glacier  300  to  400  feet  thick,  and  that  White 
River  abounds  in  nipids  too  rough  for  a  loaded  boat.  I.  C.  Russell, 
who  visited  the  IMount  iit.  Elias  region  in  1890  and  1891,  reports  a 
mountainous  region  to  the  northward  occupied  by  huge  gliiciers. 


ilijll 


18 


MAP   OF   ALASKA,    WITH   DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


GEOLOGICAL  SKETCH. 


In  mining  for  gold  man  reverses  the  order  of  the  natural  processes 
which  have  produced  such  concentrations  of  this  and  other  metals  in 
the  earth's  crust  as  can  be  worked  by  him  at  a  profit.  In  the  solid 
rocks  the  useful  metals  were  first  concentiated  in  interstitial  spaces, 
generally  cracks  or  fissures,  where  they  filled  the  vaciint  spaces  and 
sometimes  impregnated  or  replaced  to  a  certain  extent  the  adjoining 
rock.  Such  concentrations  constitute  original  ore  deposits.  In  these 
the  metallic  minerals  are  generally  accompanied  by  some  earthy  min- 
erals ;  and  as,  in  the  case  of  gold  deposits,  this  earthy  mineral  is  nearly 
always  quartz  and  the  most  common  place  of  deposit  is  a  vein  or 
fissure,  the  term  quarts  vein  has  come  to  be  almost  universally  used 
among  miuiug  men  to  designate  original  deposits  of  gold-bearing  ores, 
even  when  the  spaces  filled  were  not  strictly  fissure  veins.  This 
generic  use  of  the  term  quartz  vein  will  be  followed  in  the  succeeding 
pages. 

In  the  ordinary  processes  of  nature,  after  rocks  have  been  formed 
and  consolidated  they  are  folded,  t!rushed,  and  lifted  up  into  mountain 
ranges,  and  then  worn  down  and  distintegrated  by  cold,  heat,  rain, 
and  other  destructive  agencies,  and  finally  transported  by  running 
water  and  rearrai  ;;ed  and  distributed  in  river  valleys  or  on  beaches. 
During  this  transportation  and  rearrangement  the  heavy  particles  in 
the  detrital  material,  or  gravels,  naturally  settle  to  the  bottom  in  the 
valleys  or  on  the  beaches ;  hence,  M'here  these  detrital  materials  come 
from  the  wearing  down  of  rocks  containing  gold  deposits  there  results 
a  concentration  of  the  gold  at  favorable  points,  and  a  later  class  of 
deposit  is  formed,  which  is  called  by  the  generic  name  placer. 

In  placer  deposits,  where  nature  has  already  done  part  of  the  work 
of  separating  the  gold  from  its  matrix,  man  finds  the  readiest  remuner- 
ation for  his  labor,  but  in  seanihiug  for  deposits  of  this  character  he 
must  be  guided  by  such  knowledge  as  is  attainable  with  regsird  to  the 
source  of  the  concentrated  gold.  Although  very  finely  divided  gold 
may  be  transported  long  distances  in  the  sands  of  large  ri\  ers  and  may 
settle  in  considerable  quantities  at  favorable  localities,  the  coai-ser 
gold,  which  yields  tlie  greatest  remuneration,  is  rarely  carried  far; 
hence  the  richest  deposits  must  be  sought  near  the  source  of  the  gold. 
In  the  following  statement  of  what  is  known  with  regard  to  the  eco- 
nomic resources  of  Aljiska,  therefore,  there  will  fii-st  be  given  such 
ideas  as  may  be  deduced  from  the  incomplete  observations  that  have 
been  made  in  this  vast  region  with  regard  to  its  geological  structure 
and  the  probable  position  and  extent  of  the  rocks  containing  the 
original  deposits  of  gold,  and  then  a  description  of  its  various  forms 
of  placer  deposits. 


GEOLOGICAL    SKETCH. 


19 


PHTSICAIi  DESCRIPTION. 

Alaska  may  be  divided  topograph ically  into  a  coastal  and  an 
interior  region.  The  international  boundary  between  American  and 
Canadian  territory  has  no  relation  to  the  physical  structure  of  the 
region;  hence,  in  this  description  that  portion  of  British  Columbia 
which  lies  opposite  the  Alexander  Archipelago  and  the  coastal  strip 
of  American  territory  southeast  of  Mount  St.  Elias  will  be  considered 
as  part  of  the  general  province  of  Alaska.  The  known  portions  of 
the  interior  region,  which  lie  mainly  south  of  the  Arctic  Circle,  belong 
to  the  drainage  system  of  the  Yukon  River.  This  strejim  with  its 
various  tributaries  drains  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  cordilleran 
system  included  between  the  cx)a8t  aud  the  Mackenzie  River  Valley, 
which  are  about  700  miles  apart  and  approximately  parallel.  The 
Mackenzie  River  flows  from  Great  Slave  Lake  into  the  Arctic  Ocean. 
The  Yukon  has  a  general  northwest  course  for  about  700  miles 
(neglecting  curves),  and  then,  at  its  Junction  with  the  Porcupine, 
bends  abruptly  to  the  southwest,  reaching  Bering  Sea  at  a  distance  of 
about  050  miles  in  a  straight  line  from  the  bend.  Its  earlier  or  north- 
west course,  which  is  also  that  of  many  of  its  principal  tributaries,  is 
evidently  dependent  upon  the  older  fejitures  of  the  mountain  structure, 
but  the  change  to  a  direction  transverse  to  this  may  have  been  deter- 
mined in  a  comparatively  recent  geological  period.  To  one  tracing 
the  broader  features  of  physical  structure  northwestward  from  the 
United  States  through  British  Columbia,  it  would  seem  that  the 
mountainous  region  between  the  Yukon  aud  the  Mackenzie  represents 
the  Rocky  Mountains  proper,  and  the  Alexander  Archipelago  and 
adjoining  coast  slopes  the  Coast  Ranges.  The  basin  of  the  Upper- 
Yukon  (the  river  above  the  great  bend)  would  then  be  the  represent- 
ative of  the  Great  Basin  region  in  the  United  Sbites,  since  north  of  the 
49th  parallel  the  uplift  of  the  Sierra  Xe\  a<la  has  merged  with  that  of 
the  Coast  Ranges  into  one  general  system. 

The  Yukon  River  is  characterized  by  a  great  volume  of  water, 
"^hich  carries  with  it  large  quantities  of  detrital  material  that  in  the 
lower  reaches  forms  considerable  bars  and  islands.  Its  valleys  are 
alternately  A'^ery  broad  aud  very  narrow.  The  broad  stretches  often 
contain  nuxlern  lakes,  or,  Jis  the  stratified  gravels  on  the  sides  show, 
occupy  ancient  lake  biisins,  now  drained;  in  the  narrow  stretches  the 
river  is  frequently  confined  within  vertical  canyon  walls,  in  which  it 
is  sometimes  cutting  through  transvei-se  mountain  ranges,  sometimes 
through  fields  of  lava,  generally  basaltic,  that  have  spread  across  its 
track.  The  greatest  of  the  open  valleys  is  known  as  the  Yukon  Flats, 
which  include  the  region  of  the  great  bend,  commencing  near  Circle 
City.  Much  of  the  Lower  Yukon  runs  also  through  more  or  less  open 
valleys,  low  table-lands,  or  mesa  regions,  whose  surface  is  occupied 
by  nearly  horizontal  beds  of  Tertiary  or  even  more  recent  age.     At 


PMmM 


20 


MAP   OF   ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


places  it  cuts  down  through  these  and  exposes  older  rocks  forming 
parts  of  partially  submerged  mountain  ranges,  as  the  so-called  Lower 
Bamparts. 

Little  is  known  of  the  structure  of  the  coastal  region  beyond  the 
immediate  coast-line  except  the  narrow  strip  of  territory  known  as 
Southeastern  Alaska.  The  mountainous  islands  of  the  Alexander 
Archipelago  are  supposed  to  constitute  part  of  the  range  which  cul- 
minates in  Mount  St.  Elias  and  beyond  splits  into  two  ranges,  one 
trending  westward  with  the  bend  of  the  coast,  the  other  continuing  in 
a  northwesterly  direction  and  probably  forming  the  southern  water- 
shed of  the  Tanana  Eiver.  The  Coast  Bange  proper  is  a  broad  elevated 
belt  with  many  scattered  peaks,  but  not  differentiated  into  continuous 
ranges.  Ocean  ward  it  presents  an  abrupt,  rugged  front,  cut  by  fiord- 
like valleys.  To  the  east  is  a  plateau-like  region  which  descends 
gradually  to  the  north  from  an  elevation  of  5,000  feet  in  the  upper 
lake  region  to  3,000  feet  in  the  lower  Lewes  and  Pelly  river  valleys. 
The  river  valleys  in  this  stretch  often  lie  2,000  to  2,500  feet  below  the 
general  plateau  level. 

The  coastal  belt  of  southeastern  Alaska  and  westward  to  Kadiak 
Island  has  the  abundant  precipitation  and  consequent  luxuriant  forest 
growth  which  characterize  the  northwest  coast  regions  as  far  south  as 
Puget  Sound,  and  hence  the  rock  surface  is  deeply  covered  and  the 
imderlying  rocks  are  decayed  so  as  to  make  prospecting  extremely 
laborious.  But  west  of  Kadiak  Island,  along  the  coast,  there  is  no 
timber. 

In  the  interior  region  the  precipitation  is  comparatively  slight,  and 
considerable  portions  are  above  or  north  of  the  limits  of  timber 
growth.  The  precipitation  is,  however,  chietiy  in  the  form  of  snow, 
and  the  soil  is  frozen  for  a  large  portion  of  the  year,  so  that  there  is 
comparatively  little  rock  decay.  Where  there  is  no  timber  the 
surface  is  generally  covered  with  an  abundant  growth  of  moss.  This, 
wherever  the  surface  material  is  sufficiently  compact  to  become 
impervious  to  water  by  freezing,  produces  large  areas  of  swampy 
tracts,  even  on  sloping  ground,  which,  except  in  the  glaciated  regions 
or  when  cut  through  by  large  streams,  obscure  the  rock  surface  and 
render  difficult  the  work  of  the  prospector. 

It  is  not  perhaps  generally  known  that  the  theory  of  an  arctic  ice 
sheet  extending  outward  from  the  polar  regions  has  been  proved  by 
investigations  of  recent  years  to  be  fallacious.  Many  persons,  includ- 
ing some  who  might  be  supposed  to  speak  with  scientific  authority, 
have  committed  the  error  of  ascribing  to  the  placer  deposits  of  the 
Yukon  a  glacial  origin.  It  is  now  known  that  the  great  continental 
glaciers  of  former  times  spread  out  in  every  direction  from  certain 
elevated  regions  peculiarly  subject  to  great  accumulaticns  ot  ice  and 
enow,  and  that  one  such  centered  in  the  mountains  of  British  Columbia 


ORIGINAL   DEPOSITS,    OR   QUARTZ   VEINS. 


between  latitudes  53°  and  59°  N.  and  had  a  northwestward  as  well 
as  a  southward  movement  from  that  central  region.  The  limit  of  the 
extent  of  this  northward-moving  ice  sheet  was  readily  recognized  by 
the  various  geologists  who  have  visited  the  region  in  recent  times,  and 
is  roughly  defined  as  crossing  the  Lewes  Eiver  just  above  the  mouth 
of  the  Big  Salmon,  and  the  White  Eiver  near  the  Donjek,  or  follow- 
ing approximately  the  62d  parallel,  so  that  the  Yukon  Basin  below 
these  points  has  not  been  affected  by  any  general  glaciation. 

ORIGINAL  DEPOSITS,  OR  QUARTZ  VEINS. 
COASTAL  REGION. 

At  present,  so  far  as  known,  it  is  only  in  the  coastal  region  that 
deep  mining  is  being  carried  on  in  gold-bearing  veins.  Here  it  has 
become  a  well-established  industry,  and  many  large  quartz  mills  are 
running  on  the  ore  extracted  from  these  veins.  The  principal  deposits 
are  found  in  a  belt  somewhat  over  100  miles  in  length  on  the  seaward 
slope  of  the  mainland,  reaching  from  Sumdum  on  the  southeast  past 
Juneau  to  Berners  Bay  near  Seward  on  the  northwest.  This  belt  may 
be  also  considered  to  include  the  deposits  on  the  shoreward  side  of 
Admiralty  and  other  islands.  A  second  belt,  further  west,  is  repre- 
sented by  the  deposits  on  the  western  side  of  Baranof  Island,  not  far 
from  Sitka.  The  ores,  though  not  always  exceptionally  rich,  are 
worked  at  a  good  profit  because  of  the  natural  facilities  of  the  region 
for  cheap  reduction.  The  most  notable  instance  of  this  is  the  great 
Alaska-Treadwell  mine,  which  h^s  extracted  over  seven  million  dol- 
lars' worth  of  gold  from  an  ore  carrying  $3.20  a  ton,  which  is  workeil 
at  an  average  cost  of  $1.35.  Such  conditions  can  not  be  expected  to 
obtain  in  the  interior. 

These  deposits  occur  in  metamorphic  slates,  diabases,  and  gnin- 
ites,  all  similar  to  the  rocks  of  the  auriferous  belt  of  California,  a 
probably,  like  those,  they  are  of  post-Jurassic  age.  Owing  to  the 
dense  covering  of  living  and  fallen  forest  trees  in  this  region,  pros- 
pecting is  extremely  difficult,  and  it  is  probable  that  future  explora- 
tion will  prove  the  extent  of  these  gold  belts  to  be  much  greater  than 
at  present  appears.  The  gold-bearing  beach  sands  from  Lituya  Bay 
to  Yakutat  Bay  along  the  west  foot  of  the  St.  Elias  Eange,  and  the 
placers  at  1  he  head  of  Cook  Inlet,  around  Turnagain  Arm  and  on  the 
Kaknu  Eirer,  may  have  been  derived  from  the  wearing  down  of 
rocks  of  similar  age  and  composition  on  the  Kenai  Peninsula. 

At  Uyak  Bay,  on  Kadiak  Island,  gold  deposits  in  slates  are  being 
worked,  and  the  gold-bearing  beach  sands  of  the  western  end  of  that 
island  and  at  Portage  Bay  and  the  Ayakulik  Eiver  on  the  neighboring 
mainland  are  apparently  derived  from  metamorphic  slates  associated 
with  granite,  so  that  it  is  possible  that  these  more  recent  gold-bearing 
rocks  extend  that  far  westward.    On  Unga  Island,  of  the  Shumagin 


22 


MAP   OF   ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


group,  still  further  west,  gold  occurs  in  eruptive  andesites  of  Tertiary 
age,  and  several  mines  have  been  opened  on  these  deposits,  the  most 
important  of  which  is  the  Apollo,  one  of  the  most  successful  in  the 
province.  As  the  Alaska  Peninsula  and  the  Aleutian  Islands  are 
largely  made  up  of  recent  eruptive  rocks,  this  is  an  important  indi- 
cation, showing  the  possibility  of  the  dccurrence  of  valuable  deposits 
in  such  rocks.  Some  mining  and  prospecting  has  already  been  done 
on  the  island  of  Unalaska,  at  the  extreme  point  of  the  peninsula. 


INTERIOK  REGION. 

In  the  Yukon  Basin  the  gold,  so  far  as  known  at  present,  is  derived 
from  a  much  older  series  of  rocks,  for  the  gold-bearing  slates  of  the 
coastal  region  have  not  yet  been  recognized  there.  While  the  exact 
age  of  these  gold-bearing  rocks  has  not  yet  been  determined,  they  are 
known  to  be  older  than  the  limestones  supposed  to  represent  the 
Carboniferous  and  Devonian  formations  of  the  cordilleran  system ; 
hence  they  are  probably  pre- Paleozoic,  and  in  part  are  possibly  as  old 
as  the  Archean.  The  grounds  for  assuming  this  derivation  are  that 
these  rocks  contain  abundant  auriferous  quartz  veins,  and  that  the 
richest  placers  thus  far  discovered  are  so  situated  that  they  must  have 
been  derived  from  them.  These  rocks  are  classified  by  Spurr  as 
follows,  commencing  at  the  base  : 

Basal  granite- schist. — This,  so  far  as  known,  is  the  fundamental  rock 
formation  of  the  region.  The  granite  has  characteristically  a  some- 
what schistose  or  gneissic  structure,  thus  showing  evidence  of  having 
been  subjected  to  dynamic  action  or  intense  compression,  and  it  may 
pass  into  a  gneiss,  or  even  a  mica-schist,  where  this  action  has  been 
most  energetic.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  sometimes  massive,  showing 
no  parallel  structure  planes,  and  then  is  with  difficulty  distinguishable 
from  the  massive  younger  granites,  which  are  also  of  frequent  occur- 
rence in  the  region  in  the  form  of  dikes  and  intrusive  masses  cutting 
across  older  rocks.  As  distinguished  from  the  granites  of  the  coastal 
region,  which  are  intrusive,  these  older  granites  are  generally  of 
reddish  color  and  crumbly  nature,  while  the  later  ones  are  dark  gray 
from  the  abundance  of  hornblende  as  a  constituent  mineral. 

Birch  Creek  series. — Resting  upon  the  fundamental  granite  is  a  series 
of  rocks,  roughly  estimated  as  possibly  25,000  feet  in  thickness,  named 
the  Birch  Creek  series,  from  the  place  of  their  typical  occurrence. 
They  consist  mainly  of  quartzitic  rocks,  generally  thin  bedded  or 
schistose,  so  that  they  pass  into  mica-schists ;  in  some  phices  they 
contain  carbonaceous  matter  and  develop  graphitic  schists.  There  are 
also  bands  which  probably  originated  iis  intrusive  rocks  but  which  by 
compression  have  become  schistose  like  the  other  members.  These 
rocks  have  abundant  quartz  veins ;  they  are  generally  parallel  to  the 
schistosity  or  bedding,  small,  and  not  persistent,  but  some  cross  the 


ORIGINAL    DEPOSITg,    OR   QUARTZ   VEINS. 


bedding  and  are  then  wider.  They  carry  gold  with  abundant  pyrites, 
and  sometimes  galena.    They  are  often  broken  and  faulted. 

Fortymile  series. — Younger  than  the  Birch  Creek  series,  but  in 
general  closely  associated  therewith,  is  another  thick  series  of  rocks, 
called  the  Fortymile  series  because  of  their  development  on  Fortymile 
Creek.  They  are  characterized  by  alternations  of  beils  of  marble, 
from  a  few  inches  up  to  50  feet  in  thickness,  with  quartzitic  and  other 
schists,  which  may  be  micaceous,  hornblendic,  or  gjirnetiferous,  and 
sometimes  graphitic.  They  are  traversed  by  abundant  dikes  of 
eruptive  rock,  mostly  granites  and  diorites.  Two  sets  of  quattz  veins 
are  developed  in  these  rocks  :  (1)  an  older  set,  which  are  generally 
parallel  to  the  schistosity  or  lamination,  like  those  in  the  Birch  Creek 
series,  and  like  them  are  broken  by  later  movements  and  carry  pyrite 
and  occasionally  galena ;  (2)  a  set  of  larger  veins,  which  form  an 
apparent  transition  from  dikes  of  aplite,  a  rock  consisting  of  quartz 
and  feldspar.  They  cut  across  the  bedding  and  are  not  disturbed  by 
later  rock  movements,  hence  are  younger  in  age. 

Rampart  series. — This  still  later  series  is  primarily  distinguished 
from  the  preceding  by  the  darker  color  of  its  rocks,  which  are  dark 
green  when  fresh  and  become  a  dark  red  by  weathering.  They  consist 
largely  of  basic  eruptive  materials,  beds  of  diabase  and  tuftaceous 
sediments,  with  hard  green  shales  and  some  limestones  containing 
glauconite,  or  green  silicate  of  iron.  They  also  contain  novaculites,  or 
fine-grained  quartzitic  slates,  and  jasperoids,  or  iron-stained  quartzose 
rocks.  Serpentine  and  chlorite,  noticeable  by  their  softness  and  green 
color,  are  frequent  alteration  products.  These  rocks  also  contain  a 
few  quartz  and  calcite  veins,  which  are  generally  developed  along 
shear  zones,  or  places  where  by  rock  movement  and  compression  a 
series  of  closely  appressed  parallel  fractures  are  developed.  The  basic 
character  of  these  rocks  and  their  large  content  of  pyrite  seem  favor- 
able to  the  concentration  of  ore  deposits;  they  present,  moreover, 
certain  analogies,  both  in  composition  and  in  geologic  position,  with 
the  copper-bearing  rocks  of  Lake  Superior.  But  the  observed  veins 
are  younger  than  the  joints  and  shear  planes,  which  were  probably 
produced  by  the  rock  movements  that  crushed  the  veins  of  the  older 
series,  and  assays  of  their  ores  have  as  yet  shown  but  insignificant 
amounts  of  gold  and  silver.  These  veins,  as  well  as  those  in  the 
granite,  are,  moreover,  much  less  abundant  than  those  in  the  Birch 
Creek  and  Fortymile  series ;  hence  it  is  thought  that  the  latter  are 
probably  the  principal  source  of  gold  in  the  placers. 

The  younger  rock  series  noted  are,  briefly,  the  following : 

Tahkandit  series. — This  consists  of  limestones,  sometimes  white  and 
crystalline,  generally  green  or  black,  alternating  with  ^^  'es.  In 
certain  localities,  notably  on  the  Tahkandit  River,  it  has  Cf  ^glomerates 
carrying  greenish  pebbles  supposed  to  be  derived  from  the  rocks  of 


24 


MAP    OF    ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


'I  i 


the  Eampart  series.  In  the  beds  of  this  series  have  been  found  fossils 
of  Carboniferous  age  and  plants  of  Devonian  aspect. 

Mission  Creek  series. — Later  than  the  Tahkandit  series,  but,  like  it, 
not  very  well  defined,  is  the  Mission  Creek  series,  consisting  of  shales 
and  thin-bedded  limestones  with  gray  sandstones.  Locally  there  are 
thin  beds  of  impure  lignite  and  at  the  base  a  conglomerate  ("cement 
rock"  of  the  miners)  containing  pebbles  not  completely  rounded 
derived  from  older  rocks  in  the  neighborhood,  which  sometimes  car- 
ries gold.  The  beds  of  this  series  are  sometimes  altered  and  sharply 
upturned  and  folded,  but  generally  have  a  rather  fresh  appearance. 
In  the  neighborhood  of  shear  zones  they  are  impregnated  with  pyrite 
and  carry  small  quartz  veins.  The  limited  exploration  of  these  rocks 
has  developed  no  important  deposits  of  mineral.  The  age  of  the  beds 
is  as  yet  uncertain,  but  they  are  in  part  as  late  as  Cretaceous. 

Kenai  series. — Next  above  the  Mission  Creek  rocks,  and  not  always 
readily  distinguishable  from  them,  is  a  great  thickness  of  rather 
loosely  consolidated  conglomerates,  shales,  and  sandstones,  generally 
greenish  in  color,  which  are  the  coal-bearing  rocks  of  the  region;  they 
everywhere  contain  plant  remains,  and  rest  unconformably  upon  the 
older  rocks.  They  have,  however,  been  folded  to  a  certain  extent, 
and  stand  upturned  at  angles  of  20°  to  60°.  They  are  supposed  to  he 
of  Eocene  Tertiary  age. 

Later  Tertiarii  beds. — Other  and  more  recent  Tertiary  beds  have 
been  observed,  generally  in  the  more  open  country  of  the  Lower  Yukon, 
which  have  little  economic  importance,  though  they  sometimes  con- 
tain thin  lignitic  seams.  They  are  variously  known  from  the  localities 
M'here  they  hiive  been  observed,  as  the  Nulato  sandstones  and  the 
Twelvemile  and  Ponuipine  beds,  the  two  last  named  being  assumed  to 
belong  to  the  same  series. 

The  more  recent  formations,  silts  and  gravels,  will  be  considered 
under  the  heading  ''Detrital  or  placer  deposits." 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  GOLD-BKABINO  ROCK  FORMATIONS, 

The  most  definite  facts  with  regard  to  the  occurrence  of  the  gold- 
bearing  formations,  the  Birch  Creek,  Forlymile,  and  Eampart  series 
described  above,  were  obtained  by  the  reconnaissance  made  by  mem- 
bers of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  in  the  summer  of  1896, 
under  the  charge  of  J.  E.  Spurr,  in  the  American  portion  of  the 
Yukon  district,  and  the  exposures  of  these  rocks  as  shown  on  the 
maps  of  his  report  have  been  indicated  in  colors  on  the  accompanying 
map.  Data  gathered  by  earlier  geologists,  notably  those  of  the 
Canadian  Survey  and  of  C.  W.  Hayes  ami  I.  C.  Russell  of  the  United 
States  Geologiciil  Survey,  have  provided  suggestious  as  to  the  extent 
of  these  rocks  in  outside  areiis,]but  the  reader  need  only  bear  in  mind 
the  enormous  area,  the  diflflculties  of  exploration,  and  the  want  of 


DISTEIBUnON   OF   GOLD-BEARrNG    .t'ORMATIONS. 


25 


accurate  maps  of  the  region,  to  realize  that  generalization  must  as  yet 
be  very  tentative  and  liable  to  future  change. 

As  shown  by  the  map,  the  belt  in  which  these  rocks  have  been 
found  extends  about  600  miles  in  a  general  northwest-southeast 
direction,  but  there  are  indications  that  the  actual  extent  of  these 
exposures  may  be  twice  as  great. 

The  best-known  exposures  of  these  rocks  occur  along  the  northeast- 
ern flanks  of  a  broad  belt  of  fundamental  granii.  h  and  crystalline 
schists  which  apparently  form  the  central  nucleus  or  backbone  upon 
which  they  rest.  This  belt  is  known  in  a  general  way  to  extend  up 
the  Tanana  River  from  near  its  mouth  southeastward  across  the  V/hite 
River  below  the  Donjek.  In  the  latter  region  0.  W.  Hayes  reports 
quartzites  and  limestones  resembling  the  Birch  Creek  and  Fortymile 
series  on  the  southern  flanks  of  the  granite,  but  the  width  of  the  belt, 
and  whether  there  is  any  considerable  extent  of  the  gold-bearing  for- 
mations along  its  southern  flanks,  is  us  yet  unknown.  It  may  not 
improbably  extend  into  the  high  range  south  of  Tanana  of  which 
Mount  McKinley  is  the  culminating  point  and  in  which  the  Kusko- 
kwim  and  Sushitna  rivers  of  western  Alaska  take  their  rise,  for  from 
the  reports  of  Moravian  missionaries  and  of  the  traveler  Dickey  it 
appeai-s  that  gold  occurs  in  the  sands  of  esich  of  these  streams.  To 
the  westward  the  granite  backbone  appears  to  pitch  gently  downward, 
as  its  surface  area  narrows,  and  no  exposures  are  known  west  of  the 
Yukon  River.  It  is  probably  not  a  continuous  mass  of  granite  on  the 
surface,  but  contains  smaller  areas  of  the  later  ro(!'>;s  folded  in  with  it. 
East  of  the  international  boundary  the  areji  in  which  the  granite 
occurs  apparently  widens,  but  its  exposures  are  less  continuous,  the 
ovei'lying  rocks  not  yet  having  been  worn  away.  One  granitic  axis 
appears  to  extend  eastward  fi'om  the  Fortymile  district  through  the 
Klondike  region  in  a  nearly  east- west  direction,  which  is  that  of  the 
prevailing  strike  of  th(;  f-,edimeuUiry  rocks.  The  Canadian  geologists 
report  a  second  granite  axis  on  the  Desise  River  just  below  Deji«e 
Lake,  which  may  belong  to  the  older  granites,  though  they  do  not 
make  the  same  distinction  tliat  .Spurr  does  between  the  older  gniuites 
and  the  later  intrusive  rocks. 

Rocks  of  the  various  gold  bearing  series  above  the  granite  are 
reported  at  the  following  locnlities :  Their  ttrst  appearance,  to  one 
siscending  the  Yukon  from  the  sea,  is  near  the  mouth  of  the  Nowikakat. 
From  here  up  to  the  Tanana  Jtiver,  rocks  of  the  Birch  Creek  series 
outcrop  frequently  along  t  le  river,  when  not  concealed  by  Tertiary 
sandstones  and  conglomerates,  and  the  range  of  low  mountjiins  on  the 
north  side  und  parallel  to  the  river  is  probably  formed  of  these  and 
Fortymile  rocks.  About  .'{  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  T.iuana, 
granite  is  exposed  on  an  island  in  the  Yukon,  and  12  miles  higher 
calc4ireouH  quartzitic  schists  of  the  Fortymile  series  ai)pe}ir  under  the 


i 


1 


26 


ilAP    OF    ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


I 

111!'!' 


Tertiary  conglomerates.  From  the  mouth  of  the  Tanana  up  to  Fort 
Hamlin,  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Yukon  Flats,  the  river  runs  in  a 
canyon-like  channel,  known  as  the  Lower  Ramparts,  cut  through  a 
low  range  of  mountjiins  which  consist  principally  of  the  dark  greenish 
and  reddish  rocks  of  the  Eampart  series,  except  where  these  are 
burie<l  under  Tertiary  conglomerates.  The  latter  rocks  occur  imme- 
diately above  the  exposures  of  Fortymile  rocks,  and  again  from 
My  nook  Creek  up  beyond  the  mouth  of  Hess  Creek.  Higher  up  on 
these  streams  the  Rampart  rocks  come  to  the  surface,  and  the  Forty- 
mile  rocks  are  supposed  to  be  uncovered  at  their  very  heads.  Between 
the  two  areas  of  Tertiary  rocks  he  Rampart  nujks  occupy  a  belt  15  to 
20  miles  wide  along  the  river,  and  are  cut  l)y  great  dikes  of  intrusive 
granite. 

From  Fort  Handin  up  to  near  Circle  City,  a  distance,  neglecting 
curves,  of  about  200  miles,  the  river  Hows  througli  a  perfectly  flat 
region  covered  by  fine  siltf  and  gravels,  known  as  the  Yukon  Flats, 
in  which  n©  outcrops  of  st>iid  rock  have  been  observed.  In  the  Birch 
Creek  district,  around  the  headwaters  of  Birch  Creek  and  southwest 
of  Circle  City,  the  Birch  Creek  series  occupy  a  broad  area;  their 
general  strike  is  east  and  west,  curving  at  either  end  to  the  northward, 
and  the  prevailing  dip  is  between  5°  and  oO°  to  the  south.  There  is, 
however,  evidence  of  a  northern  dip  as  well,  and  the  Fortymile  schists 
and  marbles  rest  upon  them  along  the  trail  to  Circle  City.  Marbles, 
probably  beloi  ging  to  the  Fortymile  series,  are  also  reported  in  the 
hills  between  Birch  Creek  nnd  the  Tanana  to  the  south    ard. 

At  the  crossing  of  Birch  C  reek  by  the  trail  from  Circle  City,  and 
along  the  Yukim  River  for  'M)  or  40  miles  above  the  Yukon  Flats, 
rocks  with  the  characteristic  dark  (coloring  of  the  Rampart  series  are 
exposed.  From  these  up  to  the  mouth  of  INIission  Creek  rocks  of  the 
Tahkandit,  jNIission  Creek,  and  Kenai  series  occnjjy  the  banks  of  the 
river.  On  iMIssicm  Crock  itself  only  these  later  formations  are  found, 
but  the  gold  in  the  gravels  is  supposed  to  come  from  tlie  conghmier- 
ates  ('^cement  rock")  of  the  IMission  Creek  series,  wiiich  contain  peb- 
bles of  the  older  rocks.  On  American  Creek,  tlu!  main  branch  of 
IMission  Creek  which  conu'S  in  from  the  south,  the  (hirk  roc^ks,  shales, 
limestones,  and  luH'aceous  beds  wliich  tbrm  the  bed-rock  are  supposed 
to  belong  to  the  l{anii)arl  seri«'s,  which  also  occur  along  the  Yukon 
River  fnuu  5  to  10  miles  above  Missioi;  (U-eek  to  vvithin  25  miles  of 
the  nu)uth  of  1^'ortymile  Creek.  Above  (his  to  sonio  distance  above 
Fortymile  C5reek  the  river  runs  in  beds  of  the  Mission  (!reek  series. 

It  is  in  the  Fortymile  district  and  the  adjoining  mining  district  on 
tributaries  of  Sixtymile  Creek  thai  lh(>  relations  of  (lie  dillerent  gold- 
bearing  series  are  IteM  seen.  Here  i\\mv.  is  an  east  west  axis  or  back- 
bone running  ])arallel  to  the  upper  part  of  Fortymile  Creek  and  along 
the  diviile  between  it  ami  Hix(ymile  Creek,  wi(h  quartzite-schists  of 


CANADIAN    TERRITORY. 


27 


the  Birch  Creek  series  resting  immediately  on  it  both  to  the  north  and 
to  the  south.  Above  these  on  either  side  are  the  marbles  and  alter- 
nating schists  of  the  Fortymile  series.  Fortymile  Creek  below  the 
forks  runs  for  a  considerable  part  of  its  course  along  the  junction 
between  these  two  series,  on  the  northern  flank  of  the  anticline.  Dikes 
of  various  eruptive  rocks,  including  intrusive  granite,  are  very  abun- 
dant, especially  on  the  South  Fork.  On  the  upper  part  of  this  fork 
are  green  tuffs  and  slates  of  the  Kampart  series,  overlain  unconform- 
ably  by  conglomerates,  sandstones,  and  coaly  shales  of  the  Mission 
Creek  series.  Both  the  South  Fork  and  Svxtymile  Creek  are  sup- 
posed to  head  in  a  backbone  of  granite  around  Sixtymile  Butte,  which 
is  surrounded  by  quartzite-schists  of  the  Birch  Creek  series.  These 
regions  lie  partly  in  American,  partly  in  Canadian  territory. 


CANADIAN  TERRITORY. 

The  Canadian  area  has  not  been  studied  by  American  geologists, 
except  in  wayside  observation  along  su(!h  routes  of  travel  as  necessarily 
lay  through  it.  The  Canadian  geologists,  on  the  other  hand,  did  not 
in  their  earlier  and  published  observations  recognize  any  subdivisions 
in  the  older  rocks  such  Jis  have  been  made  by  Spurr.  Hence  it  is  not 
possible  to  attempt  even  a  proximate  outline  of  the  Canadian  gold- 
bearing  rock  formations.  General  geological  data  and  local  discoveries 
of  gold-bearing  gravels  indicate  that  the  gold-bearing  areji  is  very 
large,  and  may  be  roughly  defined  as  reaching  from  Dease  River  to 
the  boundary,  with  a  width  ot  200  to  MOO  miles  or  more.  The  recent 
enormously  rich  dis(!o\eries  have,  however,  been  (confined  to  a  more 
limited  area  around  the  Klondike  and  Stewart  River  districts,  on  er 
which  it  has  been  jiossible  to  extend,  with  a  reasonable  degree  of 
probability,  the  colors  indicated  on  the  map  for  adjoining  American 
areas.  Thus  it  is  assumed  that  the  east-west  uplift  of  fundamental 
granite  and  overlying  rocks  extends  eastward  into  the  Klimdike  dis- 
trict, and  that  a  se(!on(l  uplift  in  a  south ejisterly  direction  extends 
from  upper  l^'ortymile  ('reek  toward  the  valley  of  Stewart  River. 

Spurr  noted  outcrops  of  the  schistose  quartzilcs  of  the  Birch  Creek 
series  for  a  large  part  of  the  distance  from  the  mouth  of  Fortymile 
('reek  up  to  the  Junction  of  (he  I'elly  and  the  Lewes  at  Fort  Sellvirk; 
also  granites  at  various  points,  in  souuj  cases  schistose  like  the  funda- 
mental granite,  in  others  fresh  and  massive  like  intrusive  granite. 
There  were  also  occasional  belts  of  marble  belonging  to  the  Fortymile 
scries,  notal)ly  one  5  or  (i  miles  abov«!  the  mouth  of  Sixtymile  ('reek, 
not  far  IVont  tlnit  of  Slowari  IJiver.  These  observations  atVord  a  rough 
section  across  liic  belt  (»f  crystalline  schists  mentioned  by  the  Canadian 
geologists  as  stretching  eastward  and  southeastward  along  the  upper 
Pelly  and  adjoining  streams  and  acrovss  to  the  Frances  River.  Along 
the  eastern  edge  of  the  crystalline  belt  they  also  recognized  rocks  of 


-  '  I 


28 


MAP    OB"    ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE    TEXT. 


a  general  greenish  color,  made  np  largely  of  altered  volcanic  rocks, 
which  would  answer  to  the  description  of  the  Rampart  series.  Similar 
rocks  were  also  noted  at  various  points  on  the  Lewes  above  its  junction 
with  the  Pelly,  notably  in  the  Seminow  Hills  near  the  Big  Salmon 
Eivei ,  which  may  represent  the  development  of  the  Rampart  series  on 
the  south  flanks  of  the  crystalline  belt. 

DETRITAL  OR  PLACER  DEPOSITS. 
FOSSIL   PLACERS. 

Intermediate  between  detrital  materials  of  the  present  surface  and 
original  deposits  in  rock-in-place  are  conglomerate  or  cement  beds, 
derive<l  from  older  rocks,  ])ut  subsequently  hardened  into  a  rock  mass. 
These  deposits,  where  gold-bearing,  are  generally  known  as  foml 
placers.  The  cement  beds  of  the  Black  Hills  of  Wyoming  and  the 
''banket "  reefs  of  the  Transvaal  are  prominent  types  of  such  deposits. 

Similar  formations  have  been  notetl  in  the  Yukon  district,  but  more 
study  must  be  given  them  before  one  can  Judge  Avhether  they  are 
likely  to  prove  of  gresit  economic  importance.  Basal  conglomerates 
derived  from  the  wearing  down  of  the  older  rocks  occur  in  the  Mission 
Creek  and  also  in  the  Kenai  series.  On  Xapoleon  Creek  in  the  Forty- 
mile  district  a  coarse  basal  conglomerate  referred  to  the  for'ier  series 
consists  of  materials  derived  from  the  Birch  Creek,  lA)rtymile,  and 
Rampart  series.  Tt  dips  steeply  up  the  valley,  and  gravels  of  the 
stream  that  cuts  across  it  are  barren  above  and  rich  in  placer  gold 
below  it,  8ht)\viug  that  the  gohl  is  derived  from  this  bed. 

Steeply  dipping  conglomerates,  thought  to  belong  to  the  Kenai  and 
containing  abundant  pobl)les  of  rolled  quartz  and  other  rocks,  occur 
at  the  richest  portion  of  the  Koyukuk  Valley,  about  ;{()()  miles  above 
its  mouth,  and  the  gold  there  obtained  is  supposed  to  be  derived  in 
great  measure  from  them. 

RKCKNT   PLACERS. 

L'ecent  placer  deposits  may  be  divided  into  beach  gravels  and  .stream 
gia\els,  and  the  latter  may  be  formed  as  deposits  either  from  ancient 
or  from  modern  streams. 

UKACH  ORAVKLS. 

Auriferous  sands  have  hmg  been  known  to  exist  along  the  California 
coast,  and  are  found  to  be  quite  extensively  tleveloped  ahmg  the  (H)a8t 
of  Alaska,  as  lias  already  been  briefly  indicated.  So  far  as  known, 
such  placers  have  not  yet  been  worked  at  a  prollt  to  any  considerable 
extent,  on  account  of  their  want  of  permanence.  A  siulvlen  storm  may 
so  shift  the  sandl)ars  in  which  the  gold  is  found  as  to  render  futile  a 
great  part  of  tlie  labor  already  clone  in  preparing  to  work  them. 
Fossil  placers  are  in  most  cases  beach  deposits,  for  deposits  of  any 


DETRITAL    OR   PLACER   DEPOSITS. 


29 


considerable  areal  extent  miiat  necessarily  have  been  spread  out  by 
ocean  waters. 


ANCIENT  STREAM  GRAVELS. 

The  most  notable  instances  of  ancient  stream  beds  that  have  been 
profitably  worked  are  the  old  river  beds  on  the  western  slopes  of  the 
Sierras  in  California,  where  they  have  been  preserved  from  modern 
erosion  by  being  covered  by  flows  of  hard  lava  rocks.  Similar  lava 
flows  are  not  uncommon  in  the  interior  of  Alaska.  They  have  been 
noted  on  St.  Michael  Island  and  at  Auvik,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Yukon ;  on  the  Yukon  near  the  mouth  of  the  Koyukuk,  where  they 
form  bluffs  700  feet  high;  at  various  points  on  the  Porcupine  River; 
on  Chicken  and  Xapoleon  creeks,  in  the  upper  part  of  Fortymile  dis- 
trict; near  the  junction  of  the  Pelly  with  the  Lewes  River  and  for  10 
miles  below:  in  Miles  Canyon  between  Lake  Marsh  and  Lake  Lebarge; 
and  on  the  Pelly  near  the  mouth  of  the  Hoole  River.  One  instance 
only  has  been  noted — in  the  Stikine  Valley,  between  Telegraph  Creek 
and  the  Tahltan  River — where  basalt  has  filled  an  old  river  channel 
and  covered  auriferous  gravels  in  its  bottom.  In  this  case  the  bare 
of  the  present  river,  whose  bed  is  for  the  most  part  cut  below  that  of 
the  ancient  stream,  were  notably  richer  along  the  stretches  where  these 
ancient  gravels  were  exposetl.  In  none  of  the  other  localities  were 
any  underlying  gravels  observed,  nor  is  it  likely  that  in  the  interior 
region,  especially  in  the  more  northern  part,  any  such  gravels,  even 
if  they  exist,  will  be  exposed,  sin(!e,  owing  to  the  peculiar  climatic 
conditions  existing  there,  the  modern  rivers  have  not  cut  the  deep 
valleys  seen  where  the  climate  is  warmer  and  the  river  gradient 
steeper,  as  in  California.  The  lava  Hows  noted  above  are  all  supposed 
to  be  of  pre-Glacial  age,  and  are  basaltic,  thus  dillering  from  the 
recent  volcanic  rocks  along  the  Alaska  Peuinsula  and  the  Aleutian 
Islands,  which  are  mostly  andesitic. 

Silts. — One  of  the  most  striking  features  of  stream  deposits  in  the 
Yukon  district  is  the  grejit  iiccumulation  of  tine  silts  in  the  broader 
roaches  of  the  valleys.  The  greatest  of  these  is  the  Yukon  Flats,  an 
area  nearly  100  by  200  miles  in  extent,  through  wliicii  the  Yukon 
River  meanders  for  about  2.10  uiiles,  fnmi  Circle  City  to  Fort  Hamlin, 
and  which  stretches  40  miles  up  the  J'orcupine,  where  it  is  estimated 
to  be  SK)  miles  wide  in  places.  In  this  Hat  region  the  Yukon  River 
spreads  «mt  to  a  width  of  many  nules,  tilling  numerous  clianuels,  with 
an  archipelago  of  broad,  low  islands  of  silt  between  tiiem.  The 
main  stream  generally  follows  the  right  bank,  which  it  is  rapidly 
cutting  down,  and  is  thus  moving  its  bed  gradually  to  the  northward. 
On  the  southwest  the  flat  extends  to  Birch  Creek,  whi(!h  below  (Circle 
City  also  meanders  in  it.  Its  general  level  is  hardly  more  than  'M)  or 
40  feet  above  the  river  at  low  stages,  but  other  portions  are  higher 


30 


MAP    OF    ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE    TEXT. 


and  evidently  above  the  level  of  overflow  in  the  present  condition 
of  the  river.  Similar  flats,  but  of  more  moderate  dimensions,  occur 
aloDK  the  Yukon  between  Fort  Hamlin  and  Mynook  Creek,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Tanana  and  for  some  distance  up  the  valley  of  the  latter 
stream,  for  35  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Koyukuk  River,  and  at 
various  points  below  this  river  down  to  the  Yukon  delta.  These  silts 
contain  abundant  driftwood,  and  sometimes  standing  trees  buried  in 
place;  also  shells  of  living  species  ;  and  in  silt  deposits  above  the  con- 
glomerates of  the  Palisades,  35  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Tanana, 
parts  of  the  skeletons  of  mammoths  and  other  animals  have  been 
found  mixed  with  driftwood.  The  silts  are  also  found  in  the  lake 
valleys  and  broader  river  valleys  of  the  upper  tributaries  of  the 
Yukon,  even  within  the  region  of  glaciation.  Here  they  are  above 
the  till  or  bowlder-clay,  which  is  the  characteristic  base  deposit  in  a 
glardated  country,  and  are  hence  assumed  to  have  originated  since 
the  retreat  of  the  continental  glacier  and  to  be  made  up  largely  of  the 
fine  rock  material  ground  up  by  that  glacier.  The  fineness  of  their 
material  suggests  that  they  must  have  been  deposited  in  quiet  water, 
either  lakes  or  very  sluggishly  moving  streams ;  the  more  rapidly 
moving  streams  of  the  present  day  are  mostly  cutting  down  and 
carrying  away,  except  on  the  Yukon  delta.  In  such  deposits  the  gold 
that  is  brought  down  would  be  in  the  linest  state  of  division  and  so 
generally  disseminated  as  not  to  be  likely  to  form  workable  placer 
The  stream  gravels  in  the  Upper  Yukon  are  found  to  be  more  recent 
than  these  silts,  and  rest  upon  them. 

Gravel  terraces. — The  gravels  of  a  modern  stream  are  not  necessarily 
conlined  to  the  i)reHent  bottom  of  its  valley,  for,  as  is  well  known,  the 
stream  is  cutting  down  its  bed  and  reaching  a  lower  level  from  year 
to  year;  moreover,  in  the  existing  bottom  its  ordinary  Avater  channel, 
in  which  the  cutting  is  done,  is  constantly  changing  from  side  to  side. 
At  high  stages  of  water  the  stream  may  till  the  entire  \  alley,  bringing 
down  in  its  rapid  course  more  material  than  it  can  carry  away,  and 
when  it  dwindles  again  to  a  comparatively  narrow  stream  it  leaves 
benches  or  bars  of  coarser  material  on  either  side,  which  in  the  course 
of  its  subsequent  meandering  it  does  not  completely  remove.  Thus 
there  are  often  found  on  the  sides  of  the  valley,  sometimes  at  (iousid- 
erable  heights  above  the  present  bottom,  gravel  benches  or  terraces 
which  are  relics  of  such  flood-plain  de])osits,  left  theie  in  high  stages 
of  the  river,  and  when  the  valley  bottom  stoo*!  at  about  that  level. 
Such  gravel  terraces  are  quite  common  along  the  Upper  Yukon  and 
its  various  tributaries,  sometimes  standing  several  hundred  feet  above 
the  present  stream.  Where  not  too  high  the  terrace  gravels  often 
yield  gold  in  paying  (luantities;  but  the  (juantily  of  this  gold  will 
necessarily  be  dei)endeut,  lii-st,  upon  the  gold-bearing  (luality  of  the 
rocks  from  w  hich  they  were  derived,  and,  second,  upon  the  distance 


DETRITAL    OR   PLACER    DEPOSITS. 


81 


they  have  been  carried  and  the  configuration  of  the  bed-rock,  which 
might  or  might  not  favor  the  concentration  of  the  gold  in  certain 
spots.  The  successively  higher  terraces  spread  over  broader  and 
broader  areas,  but  in  a  broad  body  of  water  the  chances  for  concentra- 
tion are  less  favorable  than  in  one  confined  within  a  narrow  valley  or 
gorge.  In  some  of  the  older  mining  districts,  notably  the  Cassiar 
district,  around  Dease  Lake  and  the  head  of  Stikine  River,  from 
which  over  seven  million  dollars'  worth  of  gold  was  taken,  a  con- 
siderable portion  is  said  to  have  been  derived  from  terrace  gnivels. 
In  general,  however,  they  can  not  be  expected  to  be  as  rich  as  the 
gulch  gravels ;  but  when  collected  in  sufficient  quantities  and  in  such 
situations  that  it  is  possible  to  bring  a  considerable  head  of  water  to 
bear  upon  them,  they  may  be  profitably  worked  by  the  hydniiUic 
process,  as  their  elevation  renders  easy  the  ctirryiug  away  of  the 
tailings  from  the  sluices.  They  may,  moreover,  have  furnished 
important  additions  to  the  gold  contents  of  stream  gravels,  where  they 
would  have  been  reassorted  and  concentrated  by  the  action  of  water. 
The  same  general  remarks  may  be  applied  to  gravel  terraces  about 
lake  basins  which  may  have  been  formed  at  higher  stages  of  the  lake 
waters.  In  tbe  Silver  IJow  basin,  nejir  Juneau,  which  was  once  occu- 
pied by  a  lake,  the  lake  beds  have  been  found  gold-bearing  only  on 
the  side  receiving  drainage  from  an  area  where  the  rocks  are  known 
to  be  gold-bearing. 

RKCENT  STRKAM  GRAVELS. 

Recent  stream  gravels  may  be  divided  into  two  chief  classes,  bars 
and  ffulch  gravels. 

Bars. — In  the  larger  streams  accumulations  of  gravel  and  sand  are 
made  in  places  of  slackening  current,  such  iia  the  inner  side  of  curves, 
or  at  points  whe  e  considerable  coarse  material  is  brought  into  the 
main  stream  by  more  rapid  tributaries.  Such  accuniulations  are 
called  ''bars,"  and  often  contain  much  gold.  In  some  cases  practi- 
cally the  entire  mass  of  gravel  and  sand  in  a  river  bed  contains  enough 
gold  to  pay  working  by  mechanifal  processes  which  admit  of  the 
handling  of  large  amounts  of  material  at  a  very  small  cost.  In  earlier 
times  the  stream  or  river  was  HoiiictiiiH'S  turiiod  from  its  course  in 
order  to  admit  of  handling  such  nialcriiils.  At  the  present  day  it  has 
been  proved  that  in  most  cases  sut^h  gravt^l  bars  can  be  worked  more 
effectually  and  cheaply  by  fioatiug  dredges,  wliich  raise  the  gravels  to 
suspended  sluices.  It  is  not  known  wiiether  the  bars  of  the  Yukon 
have  yet  In  n  testinl  for  gold,  but  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  they 
contain  it  in  considerable  amount,  and  it  seems  probable  that  those  in 
the  upper  stretches  of  the  river,  especially  uear  strciims  iliat  drain 
known  gold-bearing  areas,  will  be  found  to  be  rich.  Whether 
climatic  and  other  iumditions  are  such  that  dredging  can  be  carried 
on  with  success  must  be  determined  by  practical  experinu>nt. 


32 


MAP    OF   ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE    lEXT. 


mi 


.,;  1,1 


Gulch  gravels. — Coarse  gold  can  not,  under  ordinary  circumstances, 
be  carried  very  far  by  running  water ;  hence  it  is  in  the  gulches  that 
the  rich  deposits  of  coarse  gold  are  ordinarily  found,  and  in  the  side 
gulches  that  it  is  generally  the  coarsest,  as  in  them  the  gravel  is 
nearest  its  source.     It  is  not  always  actually  running  water  that  has 
concentrated  the  gold;  the  metal  is  so  much  heavier  than  rock  material 
that  a  relatively  slight  disturbance  of  loose  material,  if  continued 
long  enough,  will  result  in  settling  most  of  the  large  particles  at  or 
near  the  bed-rocks.     Still,  that  running  water  is  the  most  important 
factor  in  the  concentration  of  gold  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  this  concen- 
tration is  greatly  dependent  on  the  nature  of  the  bed-rock ;  where  this 
presents  a  rough,  ragged  surface,  especially  where  ridge-like  protru- 
sions run  across  the  stream,  like  the  riffles  in  a  sluice  box,  the  gold  is 
more  readily  caught  aud  the  gravels  resting  in  it  are  much  richer 
than  where  the  surface  is  smooth,  even,  and  without  many  cracks. 
Thus  the  experienced  miner  knows  that  where  there  is  a  narrow  dike 
of  harder  roek,  or,  still  better,  a  series  of  hard  schistose  rocks  standing 
on  edge  that  cross  the  gulch  in  which  he  is  working,  he  is  liable  to 
find  the  richest  concentration  of  gold,  and  that  in  the  latter  case  it 
may  even  settle  down  into  the  cracks  of  the  bed-rock  for  several  feet. 
The  lowest  channel  does  not  necessarily  correspond  with  that  of  the 
present  stream,  since  the  latter,  as  already  noted,  is  frequently  chang- 
ing its  course  within  the  material  accumulated  in  the  long  years 
during  which  it  hjis  been  flowing,  and  it  may  have  been  pushed  to 
one  side  or  the  other  of  the  valley  by  landslides.     The  actual  pay  dirt 
is  generally  confined  within  comparatively  few  feet  of  the  bed-rock. 
Sometimes  the  miner  finds  what  he  calls  a  false  bed-rock,  which  is 
generally  a  clayey  seam  that  marks  some  special  stage  in  the  history 
of  the  stream.     The  amount  or  depth  of  gravel  in  the  bottom  of  a 
gulch  or  valley  is  depeudeut  on  its  size  aud  shape,  and  the  experienced 
eye  can  estimate  approximately  what  it  is  by  mentally  carryiug  down 
the  outlines  of  the  rock  surface  on  either  side  of  the  valley  to  a 
meeting  under  the  geutler-sloj)ing  valley  bottom .     It  is  also,  naturally, 
much  thinner  near  the  head  of  a  gulch,  and  in  tliis  region,  where 
these  heads  are  frequently  occupied  by  glaciers  or  bodies  of  perennial 
ice  and  snow,  they  generally  have  a  rounded,  amphitheater-like  shape, 
the  breaking  down  of  the  rock  occurring  mainly  at  its  contact  with 
the  ice.     In  the  great  diurnal  changes  oi'  temperature  of  the  short 
summer  months  of  this  region  the  water  seeping  into  rock  cracks  by 
day  is  frozen  at  night,  and  by  its  expansion  pries  off'  fragments  from 
the  cHUh.    The  material  thus  loosened  gradually  slips  down;  but,  as 
a  rule,  not  until  it  hjis  been  moved  for  a  considerable  distance,  ordi- 
narily some  miles  down  the  valley,  is  the  gold  thoroughly  settled  to 
the  bottom  along  the  bed-rock  surface. 
The  general  character  of  the  gravel,  aud  of  the  gold  itself  in  the 


DETRITAL    OR    PLACER    DEPOSITS. 


88 


gulches  that  have  been  studied,  such  as  those  in  the  Fortj^mile  and 
Birch  Creek  districts,  shows  that  the  gravels  have  not  been  carried 
very  far.  The  rock  fragments  are  not  completely  rounded ;  they  are 
generally  rather  angular,  and  often  quite  tlil.  The  gold  also  is  not 
completely  rounded. 

CHARACTERISTICS   AND   iJISTRIBUTION  OF   KNOWN  PLACERS. 

The  extraordinarily  rich  placer  deposits  of  the  gulches  tributary 
to  the  Klondike  liiver  above  Dawson,  and  of  similar  gulches  of  the 
nearby  Indian  Creek  and  Stewart  River,  have  been  so  recently  opened 
that  no  detailed  geological  description  of  these  localities  has  yet  been 
received.  In  his  report,  however,  Spurr  had  shown  that  the  strike 
of  the  gold-bearing  rocks  in  the  Fortymile  district,  and  the  exposures 
observed  along  the  Yukon,  indicated  that  their  gold  must  have  been 
derived  from  the  same  gold-bearing  formations  that  had  furnished 
the  richest  placers  in  the  districts  visited  by  him.  A  brief  statement 
of  the  prominent  characteristics  of  these  districts  as  given  by  him  will 
therefore  probably  be  of  value  to  the  prospector.  Geologj'  can  give 
only  general  indications  and  point  out  where  gold  may  be  found. 
The  actual  location  of  rich  concentrations  must  be  determined  by  the 
miner  himself. 

The  hills  surrounding  the  gulches  of  the  Little  ^Mynook  and  Hunter 
creeks,  on  the  Lower  Yukon,  are  formed  of  rocks  of  the  IJampart 
series.  The  bed-rocks  are  of  diabase,  tutl's,  impure  shales,  and  quartz- 
ites,  and  in  the  bottoms  of  the  gulches  there  is  from  10  to  20  feet 
of  gravel.  The  gravel  consists  in  part  of  angular  fragments  of  rocks 
that  form  the  walls  of  the  gulch,  in  part  of  waterworn  pebbles  of  Birch 
Creek  schist,  schistose  granite,  and  other  rocks.  The  gold  is  gen- 
erally in  rounded,  beau-shaped  grains  and  nuggets,  and  less  frequently 
in  unworn  particles.  This  points  to  a  two-fold  origin  of  the  gold,  as 
derived  in  part  from  the  rocks  immediately  about  and  in  part  from 
distant  and  older  rocks,  which  may  have  been  worn  down,  possibly 
along  an  old  seashore,  into  terrace  gravels,  and  then  by  subsequent 
erosion  brought  into  the  ])rcseiit  stream  l)eds.  Further  exploration  in 
the  hills  to  the  south  may  disclose  the  true  source  of  these  pebbles  and 
of  the  gold  that  accompanies  them.  On  American  ('reek,  in  the  Mission 
Creek  district,  the  gold-bearing  placers  are  also  derivetl  from  rocks  of 
the  Rampart  series — quartzitic  schists,  serpentines,  and  chloritic 
rocks — and  the  gold  is  said  l)y  Spurr  to  have  been  derived  mainly 
from  the  schistose  zones  in  tl»e  bed-rock. 

The  richest  gravels  have  been  found  in  the  Birch  Creek  and  Forty- 
mile  districts.  In  the  entire  Birch  Creek  district,  which  lies  south  of 
Circle  City,  and  on  Miller,  Glacier,  Poker,  and  Davis  creeks  of  the 
Fortymile  district,  near  the  international  boundary,  the  bed-rocks  are 
always  the  quart/ite-schists  of  the  Birch  Creek  series,  containing  veins 


•  "HV  V  »l7.f '7.,  w-t;  V; 


34 


MAP    OF    ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


m 


,S!,i 


of  quartz.  The  gravels  rest,  as  a  rule,  directly  on  the  schist,  though 
in  some  cases,  as  on  Harrison  and  Eagle  creeks  in  the  Birch  Creek 
district,  there  is  clay  beneath  the  gravels,  and  the  gold  as  a  rule  does 
not  extend  into  the  bed-rock  but  occurs  chiefly  at  the  top  of  the  clay. 
Generally,  however,  the  schist  is  rotted  and  reddeuetl  from  oxidation 
for  a  few  inches  to  several  feet  below  the  surface,  and  in  this  part  the 
gold  has  settled  into  the  ci-acks  and  joints.  The  pay  gravels  lie  mostly 
next  the  bed-rock,  in  an  average  thickness  of  perhai)8  2  feet,  though 
sometimes  up  to  10  feet,  while  the  overlying  gravels  average  8  or  10 
feet,  with  a  maximum  of  25  feet.  In  the  gravels  the  schist  is  in  quite 
large,  flat  fragments,  and  the  quartz  is  in  bowldvers  of  varying  size. 
The  schist  frr^gments  lie  flat,  and  are  mixed  with  sand,  showing  that 
the  sorting  action  of  running  water  hsis  not  been  carried  far.  In  the 
concentrates  from  the  sluice  boxes  the  heavier  minerals  associated 
with  the  gold — galena,  magnetite,  limonite,  hornblende,  and  garnet — 
are  in  each  case  such  as  are  found  in  the  neighboring  schists,  and  the 
nuggets  of  gold  often  have  pieces  of  quartz  still  adhering  to  them. 
All  these  facts  are  evidence  that  the  gold  is  derived  from  rocks  in 
the  vicinity,  and  is  not  brought  from  a  great  distance,  perhaps  by 
glaciers,  as  some  erroneously  suppose. 

The  rocks  of  the  Fortymile  series  in  the  Fortymile  district,  as 
already  stated,  form  the  west  bank  of  Fortymile  Creek,  and  south  of 
the  South  Fork  cross  the  divide  between  Franklin  Gulch  and  Napoleon 
Creek,  where  they  are  overlain  by  green  slates  of  the  Rampart  series, 
which  in  turn  are  overlain  by  conglomerates  of  the  Mission  Creek 
series.  In  Fninklin  Creek  the  bed-rocks  are  marbles  interbedded 
Avith  mica-  and  hornblende-schists ;  the  gravel  contains  fragments  of 
marble,  quartzite,  micui-schists,  and  vein  quartz.  At  one  point  a 
quartz  vein  is  found  in  the  bed-rock,  and  below  it  native  silver  has 
been  found  in  the  gravels,  which  apparently  came  from  this  vein.  It 
is  the  schistose  rocks  that  mostly  carry  the  gold,  as  the  marbles  do 
not  show  much  evidence  of  veins.  In  this  gulch  are  two  levels ;  the 
higher  one,  at  the  head  of  the  gulch,  had  not  been  worked,  while 
the  pay  gold  had  been  found  mainly  at  the  lower  level,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  gluch. 

t'hicken  Creek,  so  called  because  its  gold  occurs  in  grains  the  size 
of  chicken  feed,  drains  a  wide  area  toward  the  Ketchumstock  Hills  to 
the  southwest,  and  the  actual  source  of  the  gold  is  less  readily  deflned. 
The  gravel  contains  fragments  of  granite,  quartzite,  schist,  and  marble. 

On  Napoleon  Creek  conglomerate  forms  the  bed-rock  near  the 
mouth.  The  gravels  contain  fragments  of  quartzite,  vein  quartz, 
hornblende-granite,  and  various  eruptive  rocks,  and  the  source  of  the 
gold  is  assumed  to  be  the  conglomerate,  which  is  made  up  of  frag- 
ments of  the  older  rocks,  for  the  rocks  higher  up  the  gulch  above  the 
conglomerates  have  not  been  found  to  carry  much  gold. 


-■tlJWU?JiA:Di»5f<.l73.'^-T 


EXTENT    OF    GOLD-BEAKINO    DEPOSITS. 


86 


The  most  trustworthy  reports  from  the  Klondike  region  indicate 
that  the  exceptionally  rich  placer  gravels  thus  far  found  occur  in  side 
valleys  entering  the  main  Klondike  Valley  from  the  south,  such  as 
lionanza,  Eldorado,  and  Hunker  creeks,  and  in  some  gulches  across 
the  divide  tributary  to  Indian  or  Stewart  rivers.  No  gold  in  paying 
quantities  had  been  found  on  the  Klondike  itself.  The  placer  deposit 
generally  consists  of  10  to  15  feet  of  frozen  muck  and  decayed  vegeta- 
tion at  the  surface,  then  a  gravel  bed  that  rarely  pays;  below  that  a 
clay  selvage,  under  which  is  pay  dirt  from  1  to  5  feet  in  thickness 
resting  on  the  upturned  edges  of  the  schist,  from  which  it  is  separated 
by  a  clay  selvage.  The  pay  streak  or  bottom  of  the  old  channel  is 
usually  very  regular  and  straight,  not  following  the  bends  of  the 
present  stream.  It  is  said  to  average  GO  cents  to  the  pan,  and  may 
yield  $1  to  $.'{.  Only  very  exceptionally  rich  gravel  can  be  worked 
at  all  under  present  conditions. 

PROBABLE   EXTENT  OF  GOLD-BEARING  DEPOSITS. 

In  a  new  country  gold  is  first  sought  in  the  stream  gravels,  and 
thence  traced  up  to  its  source.  Very  fine  gold  may  be  carried  long 
distances  by  river  waters ;  hence  it  is  only  when  it  becomes  relatively 
coarse,  or  at  any  rate  carries  coarse  particles,  that  the  source  may  be 
considered  necessarily  near  at  hand.  Fine  gold  is  found  in  almost  all 
the  rivers  of  Alaska;  even  the  silts  of  the  Yukon  yield  it  in  places. 
Gold  has  been  found  along  the  whole  length  of  the  Lewes,  the  Teslin, 
the  IJig  Salmon,  the  Pelly,  the  Stewart,  and  the  Selwyn,  and  on  the 
Yukon  River  almost  continuously  from  the  junction  of  thr  Lewes 
and  Pelly  downward.  Still  further  east,  Frances  and  Dease  rivers, 
the  main  branches  of  Liard  River,  which  flows  into  the  Mackenzie, 
carry  gold.  In  the  Cassiar  district,  on  the  Dease  River,  gold  was 
discovered  as  early  as  1861.  The  district  was  actively  worked  as  a 
placer  camp  from  187;^  to  1887,  during  which  time  it  yielded  about 
five  million  dollars'  worth  of  gold  dust.  These  upper  regions  are 
distant  about  1,000  miles  in  a  straight  line  from  the  known  outcrops 
of  gold-bearing  rocks  in  the  Rampart  Mountains  on  the  Lower  Yukon, 
and  are  within  areas  either  in  which  exposures  of  the  gold-bearing 
rocks  as  defined  above  are  actually  known  to  exist  or  in  which  the 
similar  lithological  character  of  rocks  described  renders  it  probable 
that  in  some  part  of  the  area  they  may  be  exposed. 

There  is  also  some  evidence  of  the  extension  of  rocks  of  the  gold- 
bearing  series  to  the  northwest  of  the  Lower  Yukon,  though  it  is  as 
yet  impossible  to  determine  whether  the  primitive  gold-bearing  rocks 
of  the  Birch  Creek  and  Fortyraile  series  there  come  to  the  surface,  or 
whether  it  is  simply  the  fossil  placiers  or  gold-bearing  conglomerates 
of  later  fornuitious,  where  made  up  of  fragments  of  these  older  rocks, 
that  have  furnished  the  gold  of  modern  streams. 


36 


MAP    OF    ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


:f!i 

I 'I' 

J!  I 


tti  . 


in 
m 


In  this  re{?iou  sold  has  been  found  extensively  along  the  Koyukuk, 
and  most  abundantly,  as  already  mentioned,  where  the  valley  cuts 
through  conglomerates,  supposed  to  belong  to  the  Kenai  series. 
This  is  at  the  forks,  about  300  miles  above  the  mouth,  below  which 
the  country  is  low  and  swampy.  Above  the  forks  the  mountains 
close  in  and  the  sides  of  the  valleys  become  precipitous.  The  gold  in 
the  bars  is  8ai<l  to  be  coarse,  suggesting  nearness  to  the  source,  and 
has  yielded  as  much  as  8100  per  day  by  use  of  the  rocker.  Pros- 
pectors are  said  to  have  explored  to  considerable  distances  above  the 
forks,  up  to  500  miles  from  the  mouth,  and  to  have  recognized  r<K;ks 
similar  to  those  of  the  Birch  Creek  and  Fortymile  districts.  This,  if 
true,  is  important  as  an  indication  of  still  further  extensions  of  the 
area  of  exposures  of  the  older  gold-bearing  rocks. 

Further  east,  at  the  head  of  Dall  Elver,  low,  broken  hills,  a])par- 
ently  composed  of  schists  and  quartzose  rocks,  extend  northeastward 
to  the  Komanzof  IMountains,  The  latter  are  snow  covered  in  summer, 
and  form  the  northern  boundary  of  a  low  plain  that  lies  to  the  north 
of  Porcupine  Kiver.  These  mountains  are  likewise  said  to  be  made 
up  of  metamorphic  schists  and  quartzites. 

Still  further  northwest,  in  the  country  to  the  northeast  of  Kolzebue 
Sound,  gold  has  been  reported  from  the  Kowak  and  Noatak  rivers. 
It  is  possible  that  the  older  series  of  rocks  is  exposed  in  the  mountsiins 
of  this  region,  but  more  probable  that  the  gold  is  derived  from  the 
conglomerates  of  the  Mission  Creek  series,  which,  as  already  shown, 
afford  gold  on  Napoleon  Creek  and  in  the  Mission  Creek  district. 

Gold  is  also  reported  by  prospectors  from  a  belt  of  country  which 
is  generally  parallel  to  the  known  gold  belt  but  set  off  to  the  S(uith- 
west,  and  which  corresponds  to  the  supposed  southwestern  flank  of 
the  granite  backbone.  Such  discoveries  have  been  reported  from  Fish 
Creek,  which  flows  into  Norton  Sound  north  of  St.  Michael,  and  from 
the  upper  Kuskokwim  Eiver,  which  flo\,'s  iii^o  Bering  Sea,  f)n  the 
Sushitna  Kiver,  which  flows  into  Cook  lulet,  \V,  A.  Dickey  reports 
colors  of  line  gold  in  the  sands  all  along  M13  stream,  and  platinum 
on  the  upper  river,  where  veins  of  white  quartz  carrying  gold,  silver, 
and  copper  were  found  in  slates  asssociated  with  granite  and  porphyry. 
Gold  and  copper  have  been  reported  by  various  persons  from  the 
region  about  the  sources  of  the  Copper  and  White  rivers.  It  is  thus 
evident  that  the  elevated  region  along  the  heads  of  these  various 
streams,  and  l)etweeu  them  and  the  waters  of  the  Tanana,  possesses 
great  possibilities  in  the  way  of  mineral  development,  but  from  all 
accounts  it  is  a  region  exceptionally  difficult  of  access,  and  it  may 
well  be  questioned  whether  it  is  advisable  to  attempt  its  exploration 
until  facilities  for  travel  and  obtaining  supplies  in  the  Yukon  region 
have  been  increased,  as  they  undoubtedly  will  be  in  the  near  future. 

More  accessible  is  the  region  immediately  north  of  tho  Tanana 


r 


EXTENT    OF   GOLD-BEARING    DEPOSITS. 


37 


River  known  as  the  Tanana  Hills  and  Ketchiirastock  Hills,  which  from 
reports  appears  to  be  mainly  a  granite  region,  but  in  which  it  is  likely 
that  outliers  or  patches  of  the  gold-bearing  schists  will  be  found 
inclosed  within  the  granite  area. 

Late  reports  by  prospectors  in  the  Tanana  region  state  that  the  river 
has  slack  water,  navigable  for  steamers  150  to  200  miles  above  its 
mouth ;  above  that  the  current  is  swift.  Mountains  border  the  river 
on  the  north  side  from  the  mouth  up;  on  the  south  they  are  far 
distant.  Colors  are  found  in  all  the  creeks;  those  heading  toward 
Fortymile  and  Seventymile  offer  best  promises,  but  no  important 
prospects  have  Loeu  found.  Toward  Circle  City  the  creeks  do  not 
freeze  up,  and  a  hot  spring  was  found  in  one  of  the  gulches. 

In  the  mountain  region  to  the  northeast  of  the  Yukon  River  imme- 
diately above  the  bend,  such  observations  as  have  been  made  do  not 
offer  much  promise  of  exposures  of  the  older  gold-bearing  schists. 
Older  limestones  occur  there,  but,  though  important  gold  deposits  are 
known  to  occur  in  limestones,  in  the  Yukon  country  the  general  rule 
appears  to  prevail  that  gold  is  concentrated  mainly  in  the  siliceous 
rocks.  It  may  well  be,  however,  that  in  the  conglomerate  or  cement 
deposits  of  the  coal-bearing  formations  that  are  known  to  occur  in 
this  northeastern  region  there  are  portions  sufficiently  rich  in  gold 
to  make  payable  placers  by  their  wearing  down.  In  searching  for 
such  places  the  prospector  should  study  the  character  of  the  pebbles 
that  make  up  the  conglomerate.  It  is  only  when  these  include  frag- 
ments of  the  gold-bearing  rocks,  and  occasionally  of  vein  quartz,  that 
they  are  likely  to  be  productive. 

For  the  region  east  of  the  international  boundary,  Spurr  hatl  already 
pointed  out,  as  a  result  of  his  observations  in  the  summer  of  1896, 
that  the  Klondike  and  Indian  Creek  regions  were  likely  to  show  rich 
placers,  because  the  schists  of  the  Birch  Creek  series,  and  to  some 
extent  the  marbles  of  the  Fortymile  series,  formed  the  bed-rock. 

George  M.  Dawson  reports  bars  of  fairly  coarse  gold  on  the  Pelly 
all  the  way  up  to  Hoole  River.  Just  below  the  mouth  of  the  McMillan 
the  river  has  cut  a  canyon  through  gray  granite  hills,  below  which  are 
dark  crystalline  schists  with  east- west  strike  and  northerly  dip,  associ- 
ated with  which  are  alternating  marbles  and  chloritic  schists,  probably 
of  the  Fortymile  series.  Granite  occurs  again  near  the  junction  with 
the  Lewes.  Of  the  valley  of  the  McMillan  nothing  wjis  known.  The 
Pelly  above  the  detour  or  bend  had  a  similar  series  of  quartzite- 
schists,  with  interbedded  limestones  on  the  north,  while  the  Glenlyon 
Hills  to  the  south  were  of  granites.  Above  these  are  sandstones 
supposed  to  belong  to  the  coal-bearing  series  and  dipping  45°  S.  Still 
higher  up  in  Hoole  Canyon  are  marbles  again,  associated  with  schists 
and  volcauic  rocks,  possibly  of  the  Rampart  series.  Still  further 
northeast,  in  the  middle  canyon  of  the  Frances  River,  Dawson  found 


p^* 


^gfSj[^^ff4r^--^-^vam!:vv:^--'*^\  . 


38 


MAV    OF    ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE    TEXT. 


rli:' 


til' 


'.t 


marbles  agaiu,  while  in  the  Tootsha  Range  to  the  east  \\ere  seen 
granites  and  schists  with  abundant  quartz  veins. 

All  along  the  summit  of  the  Coast  Range  the  prevailing  rocks  are 
granites,  cut  by  later  porphyry  dikes.  They  form  a  belt  20  to  80 
miles  wide,  and  are  generally  of  the  hornblende  or  intrusive  type. 
On  the  Dyea  and  .Skagway  trails  they  extend  down  on  the  northeast 
side  to  the  mid-length  of  Lake  Bennett.  In  the  range  of  hills  between 
Miles  Canyon  and  the  Teslin  River  are  diabasic  or  dark  eruptive  rocks 
and  limestones,  which  may  belong  to  the  Rampart  series,  though 
Dawson  considers  the  limestones  to  be  probably  Carboniferous. 

Along  the  region  of  Rink  and  Fi^  e  Finger  rapids,  below  the  Big 
Salmon,  are  infolded  masses  of  Cretaceous  rocks  (Kenai?)  with  con- 
glomerate at  the  base,  overlain  in  places  by  lavas.  Below  these  are 
greenish  eruptive  rocks,  and  then  near  the  mouth  of  the  Pelly  is 
granite  again,  succeeded  below  the  Pelly  by  b?«alt  Hows.  Twenty-five 
miles  below  the  Pelly  granitic  rocks  again  appear,  and  are  succeeded 
by  crystalline  schists  of  various  kinds,  which  constitute  the  prevailing 
rock  dowji  nearly  to  Fortymile. 

OTHFR  METALS  THAN  GOLD. 

In  the  sands  of  some  of  the  streams  along  the  Yukon,  and  of  the 
Sushitna  River,  platinum  has  been  noted,  and  may  be  n\uch  more 
(!onunon  than  yet  appears,  as  miners  do  not  as  a  rule  pay  much  atten- 
tion to  this  metal  owing  to  its  Mant  of  bright  color.  Xative  silver 
and  arquerite,  or  silver  amalgam,  have  also  been  noted,  the  latter  in 
the  Cassiar  district.  Native  copper  was  among  the  first  juetals 
reported  from  this  region,  it  having  been  in  use  to  a  certain  extent 
among  the  Indians,  who  claimed  to  have  obtained  it  near  the  head  of 
the  Copper  River,  to  which  circumstance  that  river  doubtless  owes 
its  name.  Specimens  have  been  brought  in  from  there  in  recent  years, 
but  it  iloes  iiot  appear  that  the  deposits  from  whi«jh  they  came  have 
yet  been  discovered.  Xative  copper  was  also  Ibund  in  some  of  the 
placers  of  the  Cassiar  district. 

Necessarily,  in  so  early  a  stage  of  developnu?nt  as  the  present,  little 
is  known  of  minerals  occurring  in  the  original  or  vein  deposits,  as 
under  present  conditions  tliey  can  not  be  profitably  worked.  Yet  it 
is  on  them,  rather  than  on  placer  deposits,  that  a  permanent  mining 
industry  must  eventually  be  founded.  Thvn  few  that  have  already  been 
noted,  mainly  by  Spurr  and  his  associates,  will  be  briefiy  mentioned. 

On  the  Lower  Yukon  ;{5  miles  below  Tanana  Post,  one  of  the  nar- 
row veins  of  the  Jiirch  (^reek  series  had  been  driver  on  for  110  feet  in 
a  tunnel;  it  is  much  pinched  and  faulted  and  carries  small  amounts  of 
gold  and  silver.  In  the  Hampart  series  some  aurifei'ous  (piartz  veins 
have  been  prospected,  but  tlie  principal  mineral  developnuuit  is  along 
shear  /ones,  sonuitimes  of  great  width,  which  contain  copper  and  iron 


COAL    AND    LIGNrrE. 


39 


pyiite,  ofteu  with  gold  and  silver  in  small  amount.  The  copper  is 
frequently  altered  to  the  green  silicate. 

On  the  trail  from  Circle  City  to  Birch  Creek  district,  15  miles  from 
the  former,  is  a  quartz  vein  showing  much  free  gold  and  said  to  be  10 
feet  wide.  On  Deadwowl  Creek  in  this  district  is  a  wide  vein  rich  in 
galena  and  silver.  At  the  head  of  Eagle  and  Golddust  creeks  are 
wide  quartz  veins,  one  being  said  to  be  150  feet  wide,  of  common  rusty 
quartz.  Some  fragments  from  wide  veins  crossing  the  schists  show 
beads  of  gold. 

In  the  Fortymile  district  opposite  the  mouth  of  Clinton  Creek  is  a 
mineralized  zone  in  limet'tone,  more  or  less  silicified  and  stained  dark 
red,  known  jis  Cone  Hill.  It  is  200  to  .'500  feet  wide  and  is  supposed 
to  be  auriferous.  Green  stained  specimens  from  it  were  found  to 
contain  small  amounts  of  nickel,  chromium,  arsenic,  and  antimony. 
Traces  of  gold  and  silver  were  found  in  the  sandstone  overlying  this 
deposit.  A  small  vein  of  argentiferous  galena  crosses  Fonymile  Creek 
a  few  miles  above  its  liiouth.  Between  Fortymile  and  Fort  Reliance 
copper  pyrites  occur  at  several  points,  impi-egnating  the  schists,  and 
opposite  the  mouth  of  Klondike  Creek  a  tunnel  had  been  driven  into 
a  wide  body  of  ore  in  the  schistose  rocks  which  was  said  to  assjiy  $.'iO 
in  gold  and  !?1S  in  silver  to  the  ton. 

It  is  not  thouo'ht  worth  ;"hile  to  describe,  or  veu  enumerate,  all 
the  known  mines  now  being  worked  in  the  coastal  region,  as  they  bear 
no  geological  relation  to  the  deposits  of  the  interior,  and  their  general 
characteristics  have  already  been  mentioned. 

COAL  AND   LKiNITE. 
COASrAI.   KKdION. 

The  following  synopsis  of  what  is  known  in  regard  to  the  coal  and 
lignite  of  Alaska  is  condensed  from  the  fuller  report  on  the  same  sub- 
ject by  W.  H.  Dall,  printed  in  the  Seventeenth  Annual  Report  of  the 
United  States  Geological  Survey,  I'art  I. 

The  coal  of  Alaska  so  far  examined,  whether  in  the  interior  or  on  the 
seacoast  south  of  liering  Strait,  is  of  Koceue  or  early  ^Fertiary  age  and 
belongs  without  ex(!eption  to  varietits  of  lignite,  brown  coal,  or  glance 
coal.  Korth  of  liering  Strait,  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Lisl)urne,  is  a 
coal  field  of  considerable  extent  contaiiiiiig  a  tuel  \\hi<*h  is  b«'lieve<l  to 
be  of  greater  geological  age,  periiaps  similar  to  that  so  extensively 
mined  at  Ts'anaimo  and  other  points  in  British  Columbia.  As  ro<'ks 
of  Carboniferous  age  occur  in  close  proximity  to  this  coal,  it  was  long 
suppos<Hl  to  belong  to  the  Paleozoic  4'oal  nu'asures,  like  that  of  Penn- 
sylvania, but  an  examination  of  the  fossil  plants  actually  associated 
with  it  has  shown  this  opinion  to  be  erronectus. 

The  various  coals  of  Alaska  occur  in  beds  interst  rati  lied  with  sand- 
stone, shale,  conglomerate,  and  clay,  these  rocks  usiially  containing 


40 


MAP   OF   ALASKA,    WITH   DESCRIVTrVE  TEXT. 


numerous  fossil  plauts,  leaves,  cones,  and  amber  derived  from  the  fos- 
silizatioL'  of  resin  from  the  ancient  coniferous  forests. 

Like  all  Tertiary  coals,  the  Alaska  mineral  is  light  in  proportion 
to  its  bulk,  burns  rapidly  with  little  smoke,  and  has  a  tendency  to 
break  up  into  small  pieces  under  the  action  of  the  weather.  The 
glance  coal  is  brilliant  and  clean  to  handle,  like  anthracite,  for  which 
it  is  often  mistaken,  but  which,  bulk  for  bulk,  is  considerably  heavier. 
The  bro  vn  coal  gives  a  brown  instead  of  a  black  streak  when  scratched, 
has  the  appearance  of  fossil  wood,  and  in  drying  splits  ut>  into  chip- 
like pieces.  The  geological  formation  containing  the  coal  and  leaf- 
bearing  jhales  is  called  the  Kenai  formation,  and  is  usually  covered 
by  beds  of  sandstone  containing  fossil  oysters  and  other  shells  belong- 
ing to  the  Miocene  or  middle  Tertiary. 

Many  coal  seams  have  been  partially  explored,  rnd  a  much  larger 
number  have  been  reported  but  not  examined  by  experts.  Of  the 
former  the  following  beds  promise  to  have  some  commercial  import- 
ance, though  none  has  been  thoroughly  exploied  in  a  scientific  manner. 

Admiralty  Island  coal  field. — The  broken  mass  of  land  named 
Admiralty  Island  is  penetrated  by  a  complex  system  of  waterways 
known  as  Kootznahoo  Inlet.  The  land  is  comparatively  low,  and  in 
places  on  the  shores  coal  seams  and  leaf- bearing  shales  crop  out,  of 
which  a  number  have  been  prospected.  Many  of  the  beds  are  broken 
up  by  faults  and  fractures,  but  these  conditions  are  less  conspicuous 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  area  surrounding  the  inlet.  The  most 
promising  deposits  are  at  the  extreme  east,  at  the  head  of  a  body  of 
water  called  Davis  Creek,  about  10  miles  by  water  from  the  entrance 
of  the  inlet.  About  100  tons  of  coal  have  been  taken  out  here  by  the 
proprietor  of  the  mine,  who  has  found  a  ready  sale  for  it.  It  is  not  a 
coking  coal.  The  locality  is  situated  about  40  miles  northeast  from 
Sitka,  near  the  Killisnoo  village. 

Cook  Inlet  or  Kenai  coalfield. — This  is  the  largest  and  most  imiwrtant 
coal  field  known  in  Alaska.  It  is  situated  on  the  Kenai  Peninsula, 
forming  the  eastern  shore  of  Cook  Inlet  north  of  Kachemak  Bay, 
where  the  coal  seams  are  exposed  in  high  bluffs  rising  to  nearly  2,000 
feet  above  the  sea.  From  these  biutt's  the  coal  extends  northward, 
with  gentle  undulations,  and  finally  dips  below  the  sea-level  near  Cape 
Kussilof,  covering  an  urea  about  70  miles  long  and  .SO  miles  wide.  At 
Kachemak  Bay,  where  the  best  outcrops  ami  the  only  good  harbor 
are  found,  there  are  six  or  seven  beds,  one  above  another,  the  thickest 
being  4  feet  thick,  and  the  best  coal  coming  from  the  lowest  beds.  A 
good  deal  of  prospwting  has  been  done  here  and  several  shiploads  of 
coal  have  been  taken  out.  The  (\>ok  Inlet  coals  have  about  the  average 
amount  of  moisture,  less  than  the  avtunge  amount  of  ash,  reniarkably 
little  sulphur,  and  nu)re  than  the  average  amount  of  volatile  com- 
bustible matter.     "When  all  the  conditions  arc  taken  iu.'o  oc'^urt,  \\v- 


■■i 


wmmm 


COAL    AND    LIGNITE. 


41 


Cook  Inlet  coal  field  is  by  far  the  most  promising  commercially  of  all 
Alaskan  coal  deposits. 

Amalik  Harbor  coal  seam. — This  is  situated  on  the  south  side  of 
Alaska  Peninsula,  in  longitude  154°  30'  W.  The  seam  is  small  at  the 
outcrop  and  has  not  been  explored,  but  the  coal  is  of  very  excellent 
quality,  coking  well,  and  larger  seams  may  exist  in  the  vicinity. 

IJnga  Island  coal  seams. — ^These  are  on  the  shores  of  Zacharefskaia 
Bay,  on  the  north  side  of  the  islana  of  TJnga,  Shumagin  group,  and 
have  been  worked  more  or  less  since  1865.  The  coi.l  is  of  poor  quality 
and  contains  an  excessive  amount  of  sulphur,  but  has  been  utilized 
to  some  extent  for  local  puri>os'«. 

Chignik  Bay  ''oal  seam. — This  is  situated  on  a  river  flowing  into 
Chignik  Bay,  on  the  south  side  of  Alaska  Peninsula,  in  about  longi- 
tude 158°  33'  W.  The  coal  is  of  good  quality,  and  several  hundred 
tons  have  been  mined  for  use  in  the  local  salmon  cannery,  where  it  is 
reported  to  give  satisfaction. 

^■rendeen  Bay  coal  field. — This  is  situated  on  the  north  side  of 
I  .'  ".a  Peninsula,  on  a  i>oint  which  separ-ttes  Herendeen  and  Moller 
buys.  The  field  is  about  4  miles  square,  but  there  are  several  vol- 
cajiOAs  in  the  vicinity  and  the  rocks  are  more  or  less  faulted.  Some 
handrecis  of  tons  were  taken  out  from  a  mine  near  the  head  of 
Herendeen  Bay,  but  the  mine  is  no  longer  in  operation. 

Cape  Llsburne  coalfield. — This  deposit,  before  alluded  t«,  is  situated 
on  the  Arctic  coast,  extending  in  a  general  way  from  a  point  a  'ew 
miles  eastward  from  Cai)e  Lisburne  to  Cape  Beaufort,  a  distance  of 
over  25  miles.  Its  inland  extension  is  unknown,  and  whether  the 
coal  which  occurs  on  the  same  coast  further  north  is  of  the  same  age 
or  not  is  likewise  unknown.  The  Cape  Lisburne  coal  has  been  used 
extensively  '»y  the  steam  whaleshipt ,  but  no  reguhir  mining  operations 
have  been  ■   'urtaken. 

Coal  (  tj  1^  *  ;'  V  of  the  Kenai  formation  which  usually  contain  more 
or  less  I  Ml'  i  'f  been  reported  from  the  following  localities,  but  the 
character,  e\v'  it.  iiud  availability  of  such  deposits  are  unknown  or 
problematical. 


AliKXANDKR  ARCHIPKLAGC 


St.  John  Baptist  Bay,  about  16  miles  in  a  nortiiV.cv.ierly  dirwtion 
from  Sitka. 

Surprise  Harbor,  near  Point  Gardner.  This  is  at  the  southern  extrenui 
of  the     ^mimlty  group  of  islands,  on  Frederick  Sound. 

Po):  <'  iden.  This  bay  penetrates  Kuiu  Island  from  the  northesust. 
The  cok;        i  the  east  side  of  the  bay,  7  miles  from  the  entrance. 

Whale  Bay,  Bara no/  Island.  This  is  about  23  miUw  soiitluuist  from 
Sitka. 

M^cst  coast  of  Kuiu  Island.    Coal  in  latitude  56°  25'. 


42 


MAP    OF    ALASKA,    WITH    DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


Il^i 


TAndenherg  Peninmila.  Coal  or  lignite  on  the  northern  shore  of 
Kuprejinof  Island. 

Ohwhagof  Maud,  at  the  southeastern  extremity,  on  Chatham  Strait. 

Hood  Bay,  on  the  opposite  shore  of  i  hatham  Strait  from  the  last 
lociility. 

Prince  of  Wales  Island,  near  Kasahan  Bay. 

Seymour  Canal,  Admiralty  Island,  near  its  western  part. 

COAST  BETWEEN  CAPE  SPENCER  AND  COOK  INLET. 

lAtuya  Bay.     Exact  locality  not  known. 

Ynkutat  Bay.  On  the  northeastern  shore,  near  Disenchantment 
Bay. 

Port  Graham.     At  the  southeast  entrance  to  Cook  Inlet. 

Copper  River  delta.  Petroleum  in  considerable  quantity,  as  well  as 
lignite,  is  reported  hei»    '     ■* 


ALASKA  PENl... 


A  AND  ALEUTIAN  ISLANDS. 


Cape  Doufflas,  at  west  point  of  entrance  of  Cook  Inlet. 

Katmni.  On  the  portage  across  the  peninsula  from  this  bay  both 
coal  and  petroleum  are  reported. 

Umnuk  Bay,  Kadiak.     Also  on  Uganuk  Island,  in  the  Bay. 

Red  River,  Kadiak. 

Sitki7iak  Inland.     Southwest  of  Kadiak. 

Yanlarnic  Bay.  South  side  of  Alaska  Peninsula,  in  longitude  157° 
10'  W. 

Cold  Bay.     South  side  of  the  peninsula,  in  longitude  155°  25'  W. 

Coal  Cape.     South  side  of  the  i^eninsula,  in  longitude  159°  W.;  also: 

Coal  Bay  and  Porfaye  Bey,  near  by. 

Parlof  Bay.     West  shore,  near  Pavlof  Mountain. 

Akuu  Inland . 

Anther  Lake,  Cnalaska.     Near  the  center  of  the  iHlaud. 

Unmak  Island.     Northwestern  extreuie. 

Sandy  Bay,  Atka  Island. 

Kirilof  Bay,  Aniehitka  Island. 

COAST  AND  ISLANDS  OF  BKRIN«  SKA. 

l*oint  Vaneourer. 

[J^nalaklik  Rirer,  Norton  Sound. 

Topa n ika ,  No rton  Sound. 

llukak  River  Valley,  Norton  Sound. 

LOWER  TUKON  RIVKR  VALLEY. 

Andrea/ski  Post. 
Kallaff  villaye. 

Nvlato.    Seven  miles  below  the  post,  on  right  bank  of  the  Yukon ; 
iilso  iil)ovc  llu'  ])(«<  oil  the  same  bank,  for  several  uiiles. 


Melozik 
mouth  of 

There  a 
Canadian 


Kowak  J 
is  a  coal  fi 

Waimor\ 
the  inlet. 

In  concl 
made  give 
of  0.927,  > 
1.351,  the 
Bay  at  1.1 


From  th 
following  c 
Hess  Cre 
of  Hess  (a] 
are  exposec 
vertical.    ' 
limestones, 
which  is  2 
coaly  shak 
tains  .ipeck 
and  7  to  8 
Coal  Cret 
miles  beloM 
diau  territ< 
about  12  m 
been  taken 
rather  light 
specks.     It 
carbon  thai 
(iharacter. 

Other  loeu 
onteriug  tlu 
also  on  Cha 

Beds  h- 
<'oal  seams, 
reported  fr( 
Uiver,  nota 
Kiver,  and 


COAL    AND    LIGNITE. 


43 


Melozikdkat.    On  the  left  bank,  20  miles  below  the  settlement  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Melozikakat. 

There  are  other  localities  reported  further  up  the 
Canadian  territory. 


river,  ehieHy  in 


ARCTIC  COAST  AND  RIVERS. 

Koicak  River,  Kohehue  Sound.  Seventy-five  miles  above  the  mouth 
is  a  coal  field  30  miles  wide. 

Waimcright  Inlet,  Arctic  Ocean.  On  the  banks  of  a  river  enterinj; 
the  inlet. 

In  conclusion  it  may  Ije  said  that  the  tests  of  Alaskan  coals  so  far 
made  give  a  fuel  value  for  the  best  Alaskan  lignite  from  Cook  Inlet 
of  0.927,  when  the  Wellington  coal  of  British  Columbia  is  rate<l  at 
1.351,  the  Nanaimo  at  1.306,  the  Seattle  at  1.229,  and  the  Bellingham 
Bay  at  1.148. 

INTERIOR  REGIONS. 

From  the  reports  of  Spurr  and  of  the  Canadian  geologists  the 
following  data  are  gleaned: 

Hess  Creek. — On  the  right  bank  of  the  Yukon  just  below  the  mouth 
of  Hess  (also  called  ^\Tiymper)  Creek  frequent  sejims  of  lignitic  coal 
are  exposed  in  the  shales  of  the  Kenai  series,  which  here  stiind  nearly 
vertical.  The  shales  alternate  with  conglomerates,  grits,  and  impure 
limestones.  Three  seivms  have  been  openetl  by  Oliver  Miller,  one  of 
which  is  2  feet  thick;  another  shows  3  to  4  feet  of  mixe<l  coal  and 
coaly  shale,  with  18  inches  clear  coal.  The  coal  is  brittle  and  .'on- 
tains  specks  of  amber ;  an  average  sample  shows  18  per  cent  of  ash 
and  7  to  8  per  cent  of  moisture. 

Coal  Creek. — Coal  Oeek  enters  the  Yukon  from  the  east  8  to  10 
miles  below  the  mouth  of  Fortymile  Creek,  aii<l  hence  is  within  ('aua- 
dian  territory.  Two  4- foot  seams  of  coal  are  repiuled  in  sandstone 
about  J 2  miles  above  the  mouth  of  this  stream,  from  which  ct)al  has 
been  taken.  It  has  a  brilliant  luster  and  a  conchoidal  fracture,  is 
rather  light  in  weight,  and  ctirries  some  pyrite  iiud  amber  in  small 
specks.  It  apparently  contains  less  ash  and  a  higher  percenlagt'  of 
carbon  than  the  Miller  mine  coal,  but  is  of  the  same  general  lignitic 
character. 

Other  localities. — Coal  of  a  similar  quality  <)C(!ur8  on  a  small  creek 
entering  the  Yukon  from  the  same  side  a  few  miles  below  Coal  Creek  ; 
also  on  Chandindu  Creek,  about  8  miles  above  the  moiilli. 

Beds  b-dng  a  composition  similar  to  that  of  the  beds  enclosing  the 
coal  seams,  and  like  them  carrying  impressions  of  fossil  ])lants,  arc 
reported  from  various  points  in  the  country  northeast  of  tl  e  Yukon 
liiver,  notably  up  the  Tatonduc  and  Kandik  rivers  and  on  Big  Bhuk 
River,  and  it  may  be  assumed  that  a  belt  of  these  coal-l)earing  rock.-i 


u 


MAP   OF   ALASKA,    VITH   DESCRIPTIVE   TEXT. 


ifc 


stretches  through  this  region  in  a  northwest-southeast  direction, 
generally  parallel  with  and  often  very  close  to  the  Yukon. 

An  area  of  the  same  rocks  has  been  noted  on  the  Lewes  River,  in 
Canadian  territory,  where  several  seams  of  coal  are  exposed  in  a  bluflf 
on  the  right-hand  side  a  few  miles  above  the  Rink  Rapids,  one  of  which 
is  3  feet  thick,  affording  about  18  to  20  inches  of  clear  coal ;  the 
others  are  somewhat  thinner. 

The  rocks  of  this  formation  are  generally  steeply  inclined  and  often 
much  folded,  hence  not  favorably  situated  for  mining,  and  the  coals 
thus  far  known  are  of  light  weight  and  rather  low  grade,  and  do  not 
bear  distant  transportation. 

On  American  Creek,  and  on  Napoleon  Creek  near  the  head  of 
Fortymile  Creek,  are  seams  of  impure  lignite  within  the  Mission  Creek 
beds,  a  series  of  thin-bedded  limestones,  shales,  sandstones,  and  con- 
glomerates which  are  assumed  to  be  of  earlier  age  than  the  Kenai 
series.  The  developments  are  not  sufiicient  for  a  determination  of  the 
economic  value  of  these  older  coals. 


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DEPARTMENT 
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DICPARTMENT  «>F  THK    (NTKKloK 

r.    S    <.H()LO(;l('AI,   SIRNKV 

CHARLES   D.    WAL.COTT.    DIRECTOR 


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lOl.l)   AND  COAL  l-IKI.DS  OF 

ALASKA 


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